Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, not expected anything concrete

On the eve of continuing Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, the presidents of these countries are in opposing positions. Presidents Hashim Thaci and Aleksandar Vuciq meet in Brussels on Sunday (24.06). Any chance of a deal?

The DW writes that presidents Hashim Thaci and Aleksandar Vuciq meet this Sunday (24.06) in Brussels, at the „final phase” dialogue on normalising Kosovo-Serbia reports. Before the meeting, President Thaci has spoken of the necessity of defining Kosovo's territorial sovereignty. While Vucinqi speaks of a war on protecting Serbian interests. The European Union represents neutral.

The Kosovo Parliament has not given President Thaci the mandate to represent Kosovo in this dialogue and negotiate with Serbia. While the parties have blocked the so-called technical dialogue because Pristina will not talk about the Association of Serb majority municipalities, without other agreements being realised, including energy. So it is not surprising even the Serbian representative's statement in the dialogue, Marko Djuric, that out of the dialogue „does not expect anything”.

There are no concrete expectations

I expect nothing of these talks. If you look at Thaci's terrible statements, Hoti and Hoxhaj, when they speak of Kosovo and Metohija as their territory, while no millimeter is theirs, then you know that they are not ready for compromise and dialogue. So we expect nothing”, Djuric says.

Throughout the time of dialogue, the parties have had opposing positions on Kosovo's status. Pristina and Belgrade also have positions of change for the Brussels Agreement. The EU has not mixed up and explained the essence of the agreement, which are interpreted in different forms by the parties. So not five years after the signing of the Brussels Agreement, it has not been implemented overall.

Under these conditions, European diplomacy chief Federika Moghrini has launched talks that must result in normalisation of reports, the most distant in the coming year. In addition to this timing, the mediators have not defined anything else regarding the composition of the eventual final agreement.

Chat Thes

On 24 June, Thaci and Vuciq will talk about the current situation, the level of agreements implemented and their obligations. The same topics were addressed at their last meeting three months ago. Moghrin had declared that the parties should advance faster towards realising the agreements. While there have recently been even tougher statements between the parties. But opinions have been added that the EU should seriously review the situation on the ground.

The important thing is to say that this meeting is held at an important moment for the European Union. After the last meeting, Moghrini said the parties must achieve progress, but meanwhile Pristina and Belgrade on their EU integration path are also facing the reserves of some member states. France, the Netherlands and several other countries have not yet given the green light for continuing the EU enlargement process and starting negotiations with Tirana or Skopje.

The EU summit will be held next week, where it will know whether this process will continue. While this Sunday, the summit of several EU countries for migration favours is held. Germany and Chancellor Merkel are under time pressure, so that as soon as there is a solution that will ease disputes in the government coalition.