Read @ RFERL.org

Clinton To Push For Regional Peace, Euro-Atlantic Integration On Balkan Tour

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will embark on a three-day trip to the Balkans on October 11 in an effort to underscore U.S. commitments to regional peace and increased Euro-Atlantic integration for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo.

During stops in Sarajevo, Belgrade, and Pristina, the top U.S. diplomat will meet with heads of state and senior officials, as well as members of civil society.

Speaking at the State Department on September 29, Clinton said she was eager to visit the region and that encouraging and "cajoling" Serbian and Kosovar leaders to begin direct diplomacy will be on her agenda:
"I am very much looking forward to my visit to both Belgrade and Pristina and the opportunity not only to speak with leaders, but also with citizens, because it's important that we keep the goal of that [European] future in the minds of both Serbs and Kosovars, [and] because there are difficult issue that they will have to resolve," she said.

"The European Union and the United States stand ready to assist and facilitate, to support and cajole, that the parties do reach these agreements with each other," Clinton added.

Vice President Joseph Biden paid a highly-publicized visit to the same region in May 2009.

Belgrade Ready For Talks With Pristina

Improved relations between Serbia and its former province of Kosovo are regarded as key to regional stability and a prerequisite to deepening each country's
Euro-Atlantic integration.

In early September, Belgrade signaled its readiness to engage in direct dialogue with Pristina, despite a vow by the government never to recognize Kosovo as a sovereign state.

In July, the International Court of Justice ruled that Pristina's 2008 declaration of independence did not violate international law. Seventy countries, including the United States, recognize Kosovo's independence.

Continues @ RFERL.org

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I have not been following this news thread... If you know anything more on it, please post.   [I'm a bit behind on news this week; will catch up tomorrow, hopefully.]