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Note / Chris Hill returns to the Balkans. Why?

Politiko 2021-10-15 12:33:45

Note / Chris Hill returns to the Balkans. Why?

Virgil*

Although retired diplomat for several years, as is commonly said in such cases, by executive order of US President Joseph Biden, Christopher Hill is appointed US Ambassador to Serbia. Former Ambassador to Iraq, Korea, Poland, and, in what is now called Northern Macedonia - we recall here that after a 52-year severance of diplomatic relations between the US and Albania, Cristopher Hill would be the man who on October 1, 1991, will reopen US embassy in Tirana, serving as Chargé d'Affaires to succeed his successor WE Ryerson. In short, a race diplomat who, just take a quick look at your CV, to understand that,

Ambassador Hill replaces Anthony Godfrey, who was appointed to the post by former President Trump in November 2019. Beyond any comment we can say that comparing the profiles of the two diplomats, it is clear that, at least in the House White, it is understood that the so-called Gordian knots in the Western Balkans can not be solved by gray-haired officials, but people who need the experience, thought and action of high-profile political and diplomatic figures, such as Christopher Hill- it. The early departure of Godfrey, according to a well-known diplomatic practice, the mandate ends after four years of service, has nothing to do simply with the fact that the latter was appointed by the previous President, perhaps not even with the fact that Godfrey preferred a soft line with Serbia, emphasizing the strengthening of bilateral relations and, especially, those in the field of economy and trade exchanges - as the newspaper "Danas" reports in an activity yesterday in Belgrade on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between The United States and the former Kingdom, Godfrey would strongly advocate for a high level of cooperation between the United States and Tito's Yugoslavia in all areas, including the military - not even Serbia's appointment last year. Former Director of the Chancellery for Kosovo at the Government of Serbia, Marko uriuriç, a close associate of President Vuçiç, Ambassador to Washington - the connotation is clear and needs no explanation - rather than the fact that various observers see in this movement a return of American diplomacy in the Balkans. Maybe this time, to put the dots on the "i" - in the message he sent to Serbian President Vucic on the occasion of the national holiday, President Biden stressed the improvement of relations between Serbia and Kosovo as two sovereign countries, which, understandably, erased any illusions Serb for any softening of US foreign policy with the new administration of President Biden. This can be seen in the appointment of Gabriel Escobar as the US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans in place of Matthew Palmer and, in particular, the presence of the former in the talks held in Brussels to resolve the crisis on last between Kosovo and Serbia. understandably erased any Serbian illusion of any softening of US foreign policy with President Biden's new administration. This is also noted in the appointment of Gabriel Escobar as the US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans to replace Matthew Palmer and, in particular, the presence of the former in the talks held in Brussels to resolve the crisis. last between Kosovo and Serbia. understandably erased any Serbian illusion of any softening of US foreign policy with President Biden's new administration. This can be seen in the appointment of Gabriel Escobar as the US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans in place of Matthew Palmer and, in particular, the presence of the former in the talks held in Brussels to resolve the crisis on last between Kosovo and Serbia.

The news was broadcast laconic and without any political nuances by the print and electronic media in Belgrade. The daily "Politika" emphasizes the fact that Hill is a good connoisseur of the region - in other words, of its problems - and that he has previously performed the role of US special envoy for Kosovo, citing the fact that in In 1999, at Rambouillet, he played a key role alongside then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

* Virgilius is the pen name of a Politico collaborator, familiar with diplomatic and political developments in the region