U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns has said that Belgrade and Pristina should be more flexible in their talks about Kosovo's representation at regional meetings, so they could reach an agreement acceptable to both sides.

The talks with Belgrade should continue, Burns told Radio and Television of Kosovo on Saturday, stressing that the people of Kosovo should themselves determine their national interest.

It is extremely important that Kosovo be represented as equal compared to other countries, he emphasized at the end of his visit to Pristina.

Kosovo has achieved great progress in human rights, he stated, adding that the U.S. had a strong friendship with Kosovo and remained committed to Kosovo's independence and integrity.

The U.S. shares the vision of Kosovo becoming a member of the EU and NATO, he noted.

During his one-day visit to Kosovo, Burns met with its President Atifeta Jahjaga, Prime Minister Hasim Taci and the top officials of KFOR, EULEX and EU in Kosovo.

Burns and Kosovo's Foreign Minister Enver Hodzaj signed on Saturday an agreement on cooperation and partnership between the U.S. military and Kosovo Security Force.

Deputy Secretary of State visited the Gracanica monastery as well, where he met with Visoki Decani Abbot Sava Janjic and mayors of municipalities with Serb majority, who were elected at the local elections organized by Pristina.

Gracanica Mayor Bojan Stojanovic told KIM Radio the mayors of the municipalities that operate according to the Pristina system had met with Burns to discuss the end of supervised independence in Kosovo.

He fears the situation could get worse if the international supervision of Kosovo's independence were to end next year.