{ "id": "R44955", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R44955", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 587691, "date": "2018-11-16", "retrieved": "2018-11-17T00:27:44.167441", "title": "Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations", "summary": "Following the conflicts in the 1990s in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the prospect of membership in the Euro-Atlantic community and the active presence of the United States and European Union (EU) in the Western Balkans provided a level of stability that allowed most of the countries of the region to adopt economic and political reforms. During this time, Slovenia and Croatia joined the EU. These countries, along with Albania and Montenegro, also joined NATO. Other countries of the Balkans are pursuing EU and NATO membership. \nHowever, many observers in Europe and the United States have expressed concern that political stability in the Western Balkans, sometimes referred to as Europe\u2019s \u201cinner courtyard,\u201d remains tenuous. Several of these countries have experienced political crises, sometimes involving third-party interference, as well as stagnating economies, high unemployment, and high rates of emigration. These crises have raised concerns that any decrease in EU or U.S. presence could create a regional vacuum in which transnational crime, radicalization, or terrorism could flourish. Furthermore, some observers are concerned with the growing economic and political role of Russia, China, and other states whose agendas in the Western Balkans might conflict with U.S. and EU interests in the region.\nSome observers see Serbia as relatively stable, despite its historically difficult relations with its neighbors, its ongoing dispute with Kosovo, recent concerns over its commitment to democratic rule, and its desire to balance its orientation toward the West with its historical ties to Russia. At the same time, others view Serbia as an important piece in the geopolitical competition in the Balkans between the West and Russia.\nU.S. relations with Serbia have been rocky at times, due to past U.S. interventions in the conflicts in Bosnia and Kosovo and U.S. recognition of Kosovo\u2019s independence. Nevertheless, relations between Washington and Belgrade seem to have improved recently. Between 2001 and 2017, the United States provided close to $800 million in aid to Serbia to help stimulate economic growth, strengthen the justice system, and promote good governance. The United States continues to support Serbia\u2019s efforts to join the EU. At the same time, the United States has sought to strengthen its own relationship with Serbia through deepening cooperation based on mutual interests and respect. Many observers believe the EU, despite its stated commitment to expansion in the Western Balkans, has been preoccupied by internal issues such as the migration crisis, recovery from the eurozone crisis, and the exit of the United Kingdom from the union. These observers, in both Washington and the Balkans, believe the United States should reinvigorate its strategy of active engagement with the Western Balkans, and in particular its relations with Serbia. \nThis report provides an overview of Serbia and U.S. relations with Belgrade.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44955", "sha1": "f8f210589a984048412e524087d90661561a5856", "filename": "files/20181116_R44955_f8f210589a984048412e524087d90661561a5856.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44955_files&id=/0.png": "files/20181116_R44955_images_bb2a80b60fdf5fbfde2869922ba786f28bcbe86f.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44955", "sha1": "82a6771ba6f8bfab2e276d2854cd96a7c57fd09c", "filename": "files/20181116_R44955_82a6771ba6f8bfab2e276d2854cd96a7c57fd09c.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 586366, "date": "2018-10-17", "retrieved": "2018-10-19T13:13:06.215807", "title": "Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations", "summary": "Following the conflicts in the late 1990s in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the prospect of membership in the Euro-Atlantic community and the active presence of the United States in the Western Balkans provided a level of stability that allowed most of the countries of the region to pursue reform and adopt Western values. During this time, Slovenia and Croatia joined the European Union (EU). These countries, along with Albania, also joined NATO. Montenegro became NATO\u2019s 29th member on June 5, 2017. Other nations of the Balkans are at various stages on the path toward EU or NATO membership. \nHowever, many observers in Europe and the United States have expressed concern that political stability in the Western Balkans, sometimes referred to as Europe\u2019s \u201cinner courtyard,\u201d remains tenuous. Several of these countries have experienced governmental and political crises, sometimes involving third-party interference, stagnating economies, high unemployment, and an exodus of people from the region. These crises have raised cautions that the continuation of or sudden increase in these factors could provide a vacuum in which outside political meddling, transnational crime, radicalization, or terrorism could flourish.\nAt the center of the Balkans lies Serbia, which occupies a key strategic juncture at the social, political, and geographic crossroads between Eastern and Western Europe. Some observers see Serbia as more stable politically than several other countries in the region, despite difficult historical relations with its neighbors, its ongoing dispute with Kosovo, recent concerns over its commitment to democratic development, and the desire to balance its aspirations toward the West with its historical ties to Russia. Some also view Serbia as potentially the engine of economic growth for the entire Balkan region. At the same time, others view Serbia as an important piece in the geostrategic competition in the Western Balkans between the EU, the United States, and Russia.\nU.S. relations with Serbia have been rocky at times, due to past U.S. interventions in the conflicts in Bosnia and Kosovo and the U.S. recognition of Kosovo\u2019s independence. Nevertheless, relations between Washington and Belgrade seem to have improved recently; today, they appear to be cordial. Between 2001 and 2017, the United States provided close to $800 million in aid to Serbia to help stimulate economic growth, strengthen the justice system, and promote good governance. Despite the United States\u2019 disagreement with Serbia over Kosovo\u2019s independence and the mixed messages Washington believes Serbia sends over its relations with Moscow, the United States continues to support Serbia\u2019s efforts to join the EU. At the same time, the United States has sought to strengthen its own relationship with Serbia through deepening cooperation based on mutual interests and respect. Many observers believe the EU\u2019s commitment to further integration of the Balkans, despite its declaratory support, has been distracted by the EU migration crisis and the negotiations with the United Kingdom over its departure from the union. These observers, in both Washington and in the Balkans, believe the United States should reinvigorate its former strategy of active engagement with the Western Balkans, and in particular its relations with Serbia. \nCongressional interest in Serbia (and Kosovo) dates to the 1991-1999 conflicts in the Western Balkans. Over time, Congress has established Member caucuses on both Kosovo and Serbia and has held several hearings on the Western Balkans. In 2018, the Serb Caucus in the House noted the 100th anniversary of Woodrow Wilson\u2019s \u201cday of prayer\u201d for the people of Serbia. In 2018, the Serbian diaspora and Eastern Orthodox Church sent a letter to Congress regarding the discussions surrounding a possible land swap between Serbia and Kosovo. Many Members of Congress support Kosovo\u2019s independence, the efforts at reconciliation between Serbia and Kosovo, and EU membership for both countries, but other Members have expressed skepticism about Serbia\u2019s relations with Russia or the future viability of the Serbia-Kosovo coexistence. \nThis report provides an overview of Serbia and U.S. relations with Belgrade.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44955", "sha1": "20b638ccea32b3c1531eb1ae2cd45be6349247f8", "filename": "files/20181017_R44955_20b638ccea32b3c1531eb1ae2cd45be6349247f8.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44955_files&id=/0.png": "files/20181017_R44955_images_bb2a80b60fdf5fbfde2869922ba786f28bcbe86f.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44955", "sha1": "b5d871401e9217f5c5a31bb843b2a081a4da42de", "filename": "files/20181017_R44955_b5d871401e9217f5c5a31bb843b2a081a4da42de.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 584902, "date": "2018-08-07", "retrieved": "2018-09-12T22:29:09.984596", "title": "Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations", "summary": "Following the conflicts in the late 1990s in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the prospect of membership in the Euro-Atlantic community and the active presence of the United States in the Western Balkan region provided a level of stability that allowed most of the countries of the region to pursue reform and adopt Western values. During this time, Slovenia and Croatia joined the European Union (EU). These countries, along with Albania, also joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Montenegro became NATO\u2019s 29th member on June 3, 2017. Other nations of the Balkans are at various stages on the path toward EU or NATO membership. \nHowever, many observers in Europe and the United States have been concerned that political stability in the Western Balkans, sometimes referred to as Europe\u2019s \u201cinner courtyard,\u201d remains tenuous. Several of these countries have experienced governmental and political crises, sometimes involving third-party interference, stagnating economies, high unemployment, and an exodus of people from the region. These crises have raised cautions that the continuation of or sudden increase in these factors could provide a vacuum in which outside political meddling, transnational crime, radicalization, or terrorism could flourish.\nAt the center of the Balkans lies Serbia, which occupies a key strategic juncture at the social, political, and geographic crossroads between Eastern and Western Europe. Despite difficult historical relations with its neighbors, its ongoing dispute with Kosovo, recent concerns over its commitment to democratic development, and the desire to balance its aspirations toward the West with its historical ties to Russia, Serbia is seen by some as more stable politically than several of its neighbors. Some also view Serbia as potentially the engine of economic growth for the entire Balkan region. At the same time, others view Serbia as an important piece in the geostrategic competition in the Western Balkans between the EU, the United States, and Russia.\nU.S. relations with Serbia have been rocky at times, due to past U.S. interventions in the conflicts in Bosnia and Kosovo and the U.S. recognition of Kosovo\u2019s independence. Nevertheless, relations between Washington and Belgrade seem to have improved recently, and today they appear to be cordial. Between 2001 and 2017, the United States provided close to $800 million in aid to Serbia to help stimulate economic growth, strengthen the justice system, and promote good governance. Despite the U.S. disagreement with Serbia over Kosovo\u2019s independence and the mixed messages Washington believes Serbia sends over its relations with Moscow, the United States continues to support Serbia\u2019s efforts to join the EU. At the same time, the United States has sought to strengthen its own relationship with Serbia through deepening cooperation based on mutual interests and respect. Many Balkan watchers believe the EU\u2019s commitment to further integration of the Balkans, despite its declaratory support, has been distracted by the EU migration crisis and the negotiations with the United Kingdom over its departure from the union. These observers, in both Washington and the Balkans, believe the United States needs to reinvigorate its former strategy of active engagement with the Western Balkans, and in particular its relations with Serbia. \nCongressional interest in Serbia (and Kosovo) dates to the 1991-1999 conflicts in the Western Balkans. Over time, Congress has established Member caucuses on both Kosovo and Serbia and has held several hearings on the Western Balkans. Recently, the Serb Caucus in the House noted the 100th anniversary of Woodrow Wilson\u2019s \u201cday of prayer\u201d for the people of Serbia. Many Members support Kosovo\u2019s independence, the efforts at reconciliation between Serbia and Kosovo, and EU membership for both countries, but other Members have expressed skepticism about Serbia\u2019s relations with Russia or the future viability of the Serbia-Kosovo coexistence. \nThis report provides a brief overview of Serbia and U.S. relations with Belgrade.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44955", "sha1": "8b48b2e29f842b8ec121cd2bf5ff5bfef00d6bcf", "filename": "files/20180807_R44955_8b48b2e29f842b8ec121cd2bf5ff5bfef00d6bcf.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44955_files&id=/0.png": "files/20180807_R44955_images_bb2a80b60fdf5fbfde2869922ba786f28bcbe86f.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44955", "sha1": "994d72d6fada673914b0d8140bb7b8f91c55e380", "filename": "files/20180807_R44955_994d72d6fada673914b0d8140bb7b8f91c55e380.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 577363, "date": "2018-01-04", "retrieved": "2018-05-10T11:48:00.847545", "title": "Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations", "summary": "Following the conflicts in the late 1990s in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the prospect of membership in the Euro-Atlantic community and the active presence of the United States in the Western Balkan region provided a level of stability that allowed most of the countries of the region to pursue reform and adopt Western values. During this time, Slovenia and Croatia joined the European Union (EU). These countries, along with Albania, also joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Montenegro became NATO\u2019s 29th member on June 3, 2017. Other nations of the Balkans are at various stages on the path toward EU or NATO membership. \nAt the same time, however, many observers in Europe and the United States have been concerned that the relative political stability of the Western Balkans, sometimes referred to as Europe\u2019s \u201cinner courtyard,\u201d has been shaken, as several of the countries have experienced governmental crises involving illiberal political regimes, stagnating economies, high unemployment, and a large exodus of people from the region. These events have raised alarms that the continuation of these factors could provide a vacuum in which outside political interests, including Russia; transnational crime; radicalization; and terrorism could flourish.\nAt the center of the Balkans lies Serbia which occupies a key strategic juncture at the social, political, and geographic crossroads between Eastern and Western Europe. Despite difficult historical relations with its neighbors, its ongoing dispute with Kosovo, recent concerns over its democratic development, and the desire to balance its aspirations toward the West with its historical ties to Russia, Serbia is seen by some as more stable politically than some of its neighbors. Serbia is also viewed by some as potentially the engine of economic growth for the entire Balkan region. At the same time, Serbia is viewed by others as an important piece in the geostrategic competition between the EU, the United States, and Russia in the Western Balkans.\nU.S. relations with Serbia have been rocky at times, due to U.S. interventions in the conflicts in Bosnia and Kosovo and the U.S. recognition of Kosovo\u2019s independence. Comments by the U.S. Ambassador in Belgrade as well as by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia in 2017 set off a storm of negative press accusing the United States of interfering in Serbian domestic affairs. Nevertheless, relations between Washington and Belgrade seem to have improved over the past several years and today appear to be cordial. Between 2001 and 2017, the United States provided close to $800 million in aid to Serbia to help stimulate economic growth, strengthen the justice system, and promote good governance. Despite the U.S. disagreement with Serbia over Kosovo\u2019s independence and the mixed messages Washington believes Serbia sends over its relations with Moscow, the United States has supported and continues to support Serbia\u2019s efforts to join the EU. At the same time, the United States has sought to strengthen its own relationship with Serbia through deepening cooperation based on mutual interests and respect. Because many Balkan watchers believe the EU\u2019s interest in the Balkans, despite its declaratory support, has been distracted by the EU migration crisis and the negotiations with the United Kingdom over its departure from the union, many, in both Washington and the Balkans, believe the United States needs to reinvigorate its former strategy of active engagement with the Western Balkans, and in particular its relations with Serbia. \nCongressional interest in Serbia (and Kosovo) dates to the 1991-1999 conflicts in the Western Balkans, particularly between Serbia and Kosovo, when Congress was divided over the use of U.S. military force in Kosovo. Over time, Congress has established member caucuses on both Kosovo and Serbia and has held several hearings on the Western Balkans. Many Members support Kosovo\u2019s independence, the efforts at reconciliation between Serbia and Kosovo, and EU membership for both countries, whereas others have expressed skepticism about Serbia\u2019s relations with Russia or the future viability of the Serbia-Kosovo coexistence. \nThis report provides a brief overview of Serbia and U.S. relations with Belgrade.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44955", "sha1": "b1f0c3e4943471ce83aaba585527cee97181963b", "filename": "files/20180104_R44955_b1f0c3e4943471ce83aaba585527cee97181963b.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44955_files&id=/0.png": "files/20180104_R44955_images_bb2a80b60fdf5fbfde2869922ba786f28bcbe86f.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44955", "sha1": "f73106975d72638b74710c502931255751f1b4d6", "filename": "files/20180104_R44955_f73106975d72638b74710c502931255751f1b4d6.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 574156, "date": "2017-10-16", "retrieved": "2017-10-17T14:15:18.294362", "title": "Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations", "summary": "Following the conflicts in the late 1990s in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the prospect of membership in the Euro-Atlantic community and the active presence of the United States in the Western Balkan region provided a level of stability that allowed most of the countries of the region to pursue reform and adopt Western values. During this time, Slovenia and Croatia joined the European Union (EU). These countries, along with Albania, also joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Montenegro became NATO\u2019s 29th member on June 3, 2017. Other nations of the Balkans are at various stages on the path toward EU or NATO membership. \nAt the same time, however, many observers in Europe and the United States have been concerned that the relative political stability of the Western Balkans, sometimes referred to as Europe\u2019s \u201cinner courtyard,\u201d has been shaken, as several of the countries have experienced governmental crises involving illiberal political regimes, stagnating economies, high unemployment, and a large exodus of people from the region. These events have raised alarms that the continuation of these factors could provide a vacuum in which outside political interests, including Russia; transnational crime; radicalization; and terrorism could flourish.\nAt the center of the Balkans lies Serbia which occupies a key strategic juncture at the social, political, and geographic crossroads between Eastern and Western Europe. Despite difficult historical relations with its neighbors, its ongoing dispute with Kosovo, recent concerns over its democratic development, and the desire to balance its aspirations toward the West with its historical ties to Russia, Serbia is seen by some as more stable politically than some of its neighbors. Serbia is also viewed by some as potentially the engine of economic growth for the entire Balkan region. At the same time, Serbia is viewed by others as an important piece in the geostrategic competition among the EU, the United States, and Russia in the Western Balkans.\nU.S. relations with Serbia have been rocky at times due to U.S. interventions in the conflicts in Bosnia and Kosovo, and the U.S. recognition of Kosovo\u2019s independence. Recently, comments by the U.S. Ambassador in Belgrade set off a storm of negative press articles accusing the embassy of interfering in Serbian domestic affairs. Nevertheless, between 2001 and 2016, the United States provided close to $780 million in aid to Serbia to help stimulate economic growth, strengthen the justice system, and promote good governance. Relations between Washington and Belgrade have improved over the past several years and today appear to be cordial. Despite the U.S. disagreement with Serbia over Kosovo\u2019s independence and the mixed messages Washington believes Serbia sends over its relations with Moscow, the United States has supported and continues to support Serbia\u2019s efforts to join the EU. At the same time, the United States has sought to strengthen its own relationship with Serbia through deepening cooperation based on mutual interests and respect. Because many Balkan watchers believe the EU\u2019s interest in the Balkans has been distracted by its migration crisis and the beginning of negotiations with the United Kingdom over its departure from the Union, many, in both Washington and the Balkans, believe the United States needs to reinvigorate its former strategy of active engagement with the Western Balkans, and in particular its relations with Serbia. \nCongressional interest in Serbia (and Kosovo) dates to the 1991-1999 conflicts in the Western Balkans, particularly between Serbia and Kosovo, when Congress was divided over the use of U.S. military force in Kosovo. Over time, Congress has held several hearings on the Western Balkans with many Members supporting Kosovo\u2019s independence, the efforts at reconciliation between Serbia and Kosovo, and EU membership for both countries, while others have expressed skepticism about Serbia\u2019s relations with Russia or the viability of the Serbia-Kosovo coexistence. \nThis report provides a brief overview of Serbia and U.S. relations with Belgrade.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44955", "sha1": "3e9e6d5550e9fa9024321657f78f8018c22c2b19", "filename": "files/20171016_R44955_3e9e6d5550e9fa9024321657f78f8018c22c2b19.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44955_files&id=/0.png": "files/20171016_R44955_images_bb2a80b60fdf5fbfde2869922ba786f28bcbe86f.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44955", "sha1": "0c79c9bc7fc0ff711d357dadbc5bdae5af349d06", "filename": "files/20171016_R44955_0c79c9bc7fc0ff711d357dadbc5bdae5af349d06.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 466016, "date": "2017-09-19", "retrieved": "2017-10-02T22:17:58.278203", "title": "Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations", "summary": "Following the conflicts in the late 1990s in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the prospect of membership in the Euro-Atlantic community and the active presence of the United States in the Western Balkan region provided a level of stability that allowed most of the countries of the region to pursue reform and adopt Western values. During this time, Slovenia and Croatia joined the European Union (EU). These countries, along with Albania, also joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Montenegro became NATO\u2019s 29th member on June 3, 2017. Other nations of the Balkans are at various stages on the path toward EU or NATO membership. \nAt the same time, however, many observers in Europe and the United States have been concerned that the relative political stability of the Western Balkans, sometimes referred to as Europe\u2019s \u201cinner courtyard,\u201d has been shaken, as several of the countries have experienced governmental crises involving illiberal political regimes, stagnating economies, high unemployment, and a large exodus of people from the region. These events have raised alarms that the continuation of these factors could provide a vacuum in which outside political interests, including Russia; transnational crime; radicalization; and terrorism could flourish.\nAt the center of the Balkans lies Serbia, which occupies a key strategic juncture at the social, political, and geographic crossroads between Eastern and Western Europe. Despite difficult historical relations with its neighbors, its ongoing dispute with Kosovo, recent concerns over its democratic development, and the desire to balance its aspirations toward the West with its historical ties to Russia, Serbia is seen by some as more stable politically than some of its neighbors. Serbia is also viewed by some as potentially the engine of economic growth for the entire Balkan region. At the same time, Serbia is viewed by others as an important piece in the geostrategic competition among the EU, the United States, and Russia in the Western Balkans.\nU.S. relations with Serbia have been rocky at times due to U.S. interventions in the conflicts in Bosnia and Kosovo, and the U.S. recognition of Kosovo\u2019s independence. Nevertheless, between 2001 and 2015, the United States provided close to $750 million in aid to Serbia to help stimulate economic growth, strengthen the justice system, and promote good governance. Relations between Washington and Belgrade have improved over the past several years and today appear to be cordial. Despite the U.S. disagreement with Serbia over Kosovo\u2019s independence and the mixed messages Washington believes Serbia sends over its relations with Moscow, the United States has supported and continues to support Serbia\u2019s efforts to join the EU. At the same time, the United States has sought to strengthen its own relationship with Serbia through deepening cooperation based on mutual interests and respect. Because many Balkan watchers believe the EU\u2019s interest in the Balkans has been distracted by its migration crisis and the beginning of negotiations with the United Kingdom over its departure from the Union, many, in both Washington and the Balkans, believe the United States needs to reinvigorate its former strategy of active engagement with the Western Balkans, and in particular its relations with Serbia.\nCongressional interest in Serbia (and Kosovo) dates to the 1991-1999 conflicts in the Western Balkans, particularly between Serbia and Kosovo, when Congress was divided over the use of U.S. military force in Kosovo. Over time, Congress has held several hearings on the Western Balkans, with many Members supporting Kosovo\u2019s independence, the efforts at reconciliation between Serbia and Kosovo, and EU membership for both countries, while others have expressed skepticism about Serbia\u2019s relations with Russia or the viability of the Serbia-Kosovo coexistence. \nThis report provides a brief overview of Serbia and U.S. relations with Belgrade.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44955", "sha1": "82fd5335072b8f4e5ac73afd82ae4e2b95dffeb7", "filename": "files/20170919_R44955_82fd5335072b8f4e5ac73afd82ae4e2b95dffeb7.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R44955_files&id=/0.png": "files/20170919_R44955_images_bb2a80b60fdf5fbfde2869922ba786f28bcbe86f.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44955", "sha1": "9a6cb9bead08549f0b18e2beb875f48f0b0341ae", "filename": "files/20170919_R44955_9a6cb9bead08549f0b18e2beb875f48f0b0341ae.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4786, "name": "Europe, Russia, & Eurasia" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Foreign Affairs", "Intelligence and National Security" ] }