The US Ambassador in Pristina Phillip Kosnett said in the divided city of Mitrovica that Kosovo is a state and that everyone living in it has to accept that.

The Kosovo state TV (RTK) quoted him as saying that Kosovo is undergoing a transitional period with the international community providing aid for 20 years but warned that this will not last forever. According to Kosnett, the past should not be forgotten but should be understood and used to build a better future for the two people.

The ambassador said that Washington strongly supports the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue under European Union leadership and expects the 100 percent tariffs on goods from Serbia to be revoked.

“We believe that the next step in the process should be this – Kosovo immediately revokes the tariffs with no conditions set and we are convinced that if that happens the government in Belgrade will also take positive steps in the dialogue,” the ambassador is quoted as saying. He added that the US will not end its support for Kosovo if the tariffs aren’t revoked.