Serbia lost compromise with Kosovo

Joksimovic says the option of changing borders is on the table. “What this means: no one knows exactly. Various terms have been used: exchange of territories, division, border corrections. It has also been mentioned as the 1956 limit, so the boundaries in the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which were quite different from today. There is still no clear idea of what compromise will be like”.

Did the International Conference “Serbs and Albanians fulfil your expectations in what direction?”, held these days in Tirana, where you were among the panelists coming from Belgrade?

Joksimovic: The conference was organised by the Yugoslav News Agency, TANJUG and Albanian ATSH. It is very important that journalists and news agencies be involved in the process of reconciliation among nations. Journalists can contribute to moving forward in this process.

How can you describe the relations between Serbs and Albanians, who have a polar EU entry star at the conference?

Joksimovic: Despite major obstacles emerging from the Kosovo issue, there are many areas for Serbs and Albanians to co-operate at different levels. First they know each other. The disagreements between them come from the 19th century. We have only 17 years since diplomatic relations were established. There is great progress already in Serbian-Albanian relations. Free movement, no visa, it works. Economic relations are developing. We have had very important visits to the highest level -- those of the two prime ministers in 2014 and 2015, when Albanian Prime Minister Rama and then Serbian Prime Minister Vuéji met in Belgrade and Tirana. Both showed courage to open a new page in bilateral relations. Now we have a series of important joint projects under the Berlin Process as the Nis- Tirana highway, or RYCO (Regional Youth Cooperation), under the Franco-German model etc.

At the conference, “Serbs and Albanians in which direction” you said that regarding the solution that would normalise Belgrade-Pristina relations and unblock their progress towards the EU on the table, new ideas have been put in place. What are they?

Joksimovic: Serbia needs compromise. You have to win and lose something. Various ideas have been put on the table for discussion on compromise of normal relations. The option of changing borders is on the table. What this means: no one knows exactly. Various terms have been used: exchange of territories, division, border corrections. The term <x0 is also mentioned in 1956” so the boundaries in the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which were quite different from today. There is still no clear idea what compromise will be like.

All are demanding that Belgrade and Pristina find their solution, that the Great Powers should accept. Unfortunately, different interests may be involved in what kind of compromise Belgrade and Pristina will achieve. Will compromise now be applied, or will it be part of the next solution? Nobody knows that. What is known is that compromise remains the only solution. The status quo is not a solution because it creates instability and going back. The political crisis in Pristina has halted the process at the moment. I hope there is a will to sit at the negotiating table in Pristina and find a solution.

Serbia does not recognise Kosovo as an independent state. Meanwhile, Kosovo is „De facto / De jure” independent country, neighbouring country with Serbia, outside Serbia's control. The leader in Belgrade sometimes admits that Kosovo has escaped, has come out on its own, sometimes not. What do you think is the report between the refusal of Serbia as part of Serbia's national interests and unblocking the road to EU entry?

Joksimovic: Serbia has its own national interests and is set on the road to EU accession. This does not mean that any kind of solution is acceptable to Serbia. But most importantly, both countries are without obstacles to EU integration. This is a priority for both sides. I think this priority drives Belgrade and Pristina forward, as this will bring economic development, strengthening democratic institutions and implementing European values. At this moment European identity and European values are very important

However, will it be on the basis of compromise that, even though Serbia does not recognise Kosovo, it is an independent state, on its own?

Joksimovic: Kosovo, indeed, is not under Serbia's control. But regarding the answer to your question it will depend on negotiations. But I think the solution does not necessarily mean that Serbia recognises Kosovo's independence. Serbia has already proved that without its ideas the normalisation of relations between Pristina and Belgrade cannot come. /