Kerry: Serbia is taking on increasingly important role

WASHINGTON - Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Serbia's Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, met in Washington Thursday with United States Secretary of State John Kerry, who said that Serbia is taking on an increasingly important role in many respects.

Addressing a joint press conference with Dacic before the meeting, Kerry welcomed Dacic at what he called "a time when Serbia is taking on an increasingly important role in many respects."
"First of all, they are assuming the chairmanship of the OSCE. And this comes at a really important time given the Minsk agreement, the efforts that we are all making to try to see that agreement implemented," Kerry said.

Under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Dacic, we will all be looking for accountability in the process of trying to stabilize the eastern part of Ukraine, and see if we can't get on a different road, he said.

He said that the OSCE observer status is absolutely critical to our ability to know if both sides are adhering to the Minsk agreements, and so the United States welcomes the assumption of this responsibility.

Kerry touched on Serbia's European path, saying that the United States welcomes "the fact that Serbia has taken the step of moving towards EU accession."
"It will require a process of reforms and engagement. We certainly look forward to working with Serbia in that endeavor," the secretary of state said.

He said that the government in Belgrade has exhibited great leadership in helping to engage seriously in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and in helping to reach an agreement that really could begin to move things on a road to longer-term stability.
"We know it's difficult and we know there are...