The United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice yesterday stated in London that “Serbia and Kosovo are two separate countries”, and the U.S. expects good relations with both.

Rice said, “Kosovo independence is a fact many have recognized. We will try to make sure that the country succeeds, both through mobilization of resources and donors, but it must be understood that nothing can be done to reverse the situation that developed when Kosovo declared independence.”

She said that the “situation is delicate,” adding that the U.S. expected to “have good partners in both Kosovo and Serbia.”

The US Secretary of State emphasized, “The U.S. wants good relations with Serbia, and it expects them. Serbia is a member of the Partnership for Peace and has signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU. I believe that these two separate countries will go towards their own futures that, I hope, will be better for their citizens than the past.”

Speaking of Kosovo, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel stated that “in December 2007, the EU decided to send a mission to Kosovo” and that “within the existing legal framework and documents, there is enough room for that mission to be deployed.” He said, “The EU is a friend to all the countries of the region, and we are doing everything for the Western Balkans to move closer to the EU.”