Dialogue on Kosovo, deregulation from myths or attempt at partition?

In Serbia, the first meeting of the processing group has already been held, which will provide support for Serbia's internal dialogue on Kosovo, and in the month of October, this dialogue is expected to begin even formally.

Halil Matoshi from Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj's cabinet tells Radio Free Europe that the internal dialogue on Kosovo is Serbia's internal issue, which can eventually produce good results for Serbian society itself.

“If this dialogue aims to eventually give up on the Serbian myth of Kosovo, then it is worth saying that it is something good that is happening in Serbian society, affecting pacifism, respectively, in creating new conditions for lasting peace in our region”.

Matoshi adds that on the other hand, the Government of Kosovo is in daily institutional dialogue with the Kosovo Serb minority, with which there is a good partnership for establishing the welfare of Kosovo Serb citizens.

According to Matosh, from the prism of the Government of Kosovo, it is already known that mutual recognition is expected between Kosovo and Serbia, but that there are different options in the Serbian internal debate.

“has different opinions for a peace treaty. But, above all, very important at this moment, is that Serbia does not prevent Kosovo from regional initiatives and membership in international mechanisms. This would be the first step towards reducing tensions in reports between the two countries”, Matoshi says.

Africa Hoti, professor of International Law at the University of Pristina, speaking of Radio Free Europe, suggests that Serbia's internal dialogue on Kosovo can produce positive effects, if Serbs have already realised that for decades they have lived with the fog of myths about Kosovo. According to him, this dialogue could produce two situations.

Professor Hoti says the myth strip would bring about the situation that Serbs, with the help of international community, eventually gave up their claims on Kosovo. That, according to him, would necessarily lead to normalisation of reports between Kosovo and Serbia, as well as mutual recognition. But, as he says, this dialogue can produce another situation.

There is yet another explanation, which I see as more likely and normally more dangerous, which is said in a very extenuating way by Serbian President (Aleksandar) Vuciq. A long time ago he said we should stop thinking that everything in Kosovo is ours, as we should also think not all of Kosovo is lost. It automatically leads us to the situation where Serbs, at the end of the day, will ask for something and I fear that the division of some part of Kosovo will come as the conclusion of this entire debate”.

Professor Hoti adds that from the up-to-date practices, which whenever any initiative has been undertaken by Serbia and introduced a certain platform, which then that platform has received international support, Kosovo has not rarely been found in unfavourable situations to enter unprepared in certain stages. As he says, Kosovo, for every event should be prepared.

There is no space to create new situations or to think about other options. In the extreme version, though, it may have to be considered eventually in exchange for territories. I don't know why I have an impression that, at the end of the day, Serbs will be looking for parts or territories assigned by northern Kosovo, by whatever means, if such a demand would receive international support, then we would have to have the prepared plan that, Kosovo and Serbia, to normalise their reports in full, would enter the arrangements for exchange of” territories.

According to Hoti, from the possibility Serbia eventually wants to reach the Kosovo division option, United States officials have already informed the top Serbian authorities that Kosovo's territorial integrity is unprecedented.