An unnamed spokesman in Washington told the Voice of America that the State Department was encouraging Belgrade and Pristina to extend the moratorium on recognition which hampers progress in technical areas and to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Official Belgrade agreed under the Washington Agreements to stop lobbying to prevent countries from recognizing Kosovo or withdrawing their recognition.

Speaking on the first anniversary of the signing of the Agreements top Serbian and Kosovo officials, the spokesman said that Washington would continue cooperation with Belgrade and Pristina in implementing the agreements and support the comprehensive normalization of their relations.

He expressed the hope that both sides will implement their obligations under the agreements, adding that a number of elements in the agreements are in support of priorities and our vision for the region – energy diversification, regional links, the moratorium on applications for membership in international organizations and campaign to withdraw recognition of Kosovo as well as finding and identifying missing persons, the spokesman told the VOA.

The spokesman said that the need to fully normalize relations has no time limit and encouraged Kosovo and Serbia to build political trust by seriously engaging in the European Union-mediated dialogue. We also encourage Kosovo and Serbia to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as recovery from the pandemic and improving trade relations, he said.

According to the spokesman, the US are prepared to support a comprehensive, binding agreement to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia with focus on mutual recognition as the basis for lasting cooperation and progress.