US Ambassador Anthony Godfrey told N1 on Wednesday that he shares the concerns of the European Union and others about freedom of the media in Serbia.

We share the concerns of the EU and other observers about the status of media freedom in Serbia but that does not specifically have to do with the coronavirus, he said on the N1 morning show.

He said that is aware of views that the restrictive measures imposed by the Serbian authorities to combat the coronavirus pandemic have gone too far but added that he would not criticize the government because this is a completely new situation in which governments reacted as best they knew how.

Godfrey recalled the aid that the Serbian authorities sent to Kosovo and said that Serbia’s approach to the pandemic provides an opportunity for progress in Belgrade-Pristina relations. He said that he was impressed by the fact that the Serbian authorities sent medical supplies and shared expertise to help people in Pristina. We are trying to keep that momentum going, he added.

The ambassador said he is optimistic about the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, adding that US Special Envoy Richard Grenell is in constant contact with leaders on both sides.

He recalled that the US donated a PCR machine to the Clinical Center in Nis and said that he has been told that the machine performed 500 tests on Tuesday.

Asked about how US aid has been presented to the Serbian public as compared to aid from China and Russia, Godfrey said that their aid is important as are expressions of gratitude. I quickly thanked the Serbian government when Air Serbia helped get American citizens home, he said. Asked about political influence exerted through the humanitarian aid from Russia and China, the ambassador said that Serbia is guided by its own interests. Serbia is a sovereign country and should have all possible contacts, he said.