US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Stuart Jones has stated that all the West Balkan countries that want to joint the Euro-Atlantic community can count on Washington's wholehearted support and help.

Pointing out that the policy of US President Barack Obama's Administration is not to exert pressure on any country, Jones said that, when it comes to relations between Belgrade and Washington, it is necessary to find a means for specific cooperation with the aim of a better life of Serbs and Albanians.

According to Jones, the most important thing is the progress made in the US-Serbia relations after the visit of US Vice-President Joseph Biden to the region in May 2009. Biden said that the US and Serbia should put aside their disagreements regarding Kosovo and devote to a better mutual understanding, shared goals and cooperation in the region, Jones said in an interview for the Voice of America.

Pointing out that Serbia and the US having different opinions on Kosovo is the main obstacle for closer cooperation between the two countries, the US official said that Washington believes that Kosovo's independence is irreversible, but that they accept the different position of Belgrade. Belgrade has a different position - that Kosovo is still a part of Serbia.

At the end we will have to find a solution, Jones said. Concerning the dispute on northern part of Kosovo, Jones said that the US would support neither the division nor any extreme circumstances.