The envoy of the United States for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, has said that the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority is an obligation that must be implemented. 

"This request is presented in the Brussels agreement. There is expectation that it will form. Our position is to be formed in a way that is a win for both parties", said Escobar in a virtual conversation with journalists on February 28. 

Asked if Kosovo has deadlines for the formation of the Association, Escobar said that the question is how soon it will be formed. 

"I believe that with this basic agreement, Kosovo has understood that it must form [the Association]. I don't want to set deadlines, but I want to say that the discussion should start immediately". 

The senior American official said that he hopes that Kosovo and Serbia will implement the agreement for which they agreed on February 27 in Brussels. 

"We hope not to use sticks, but carrots. And they are clear. Not only do they come closer to peaceful relations, but the path to European integration is also opened. We hope that both parties will fulfil their obligations", said Escobar. 

He has said that the US fully supports the dialogue mediated by the EU, but is not part of it. 

Escobar has said that the Western Balkans remains a priority for the US and it wants to use the good ties with these countries to create good relations between these countries in the region.