Germany and Austria against Thaci's idea of exchange of territories

“We believe that this could open many old wounds in the population”, said Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Friday (31.08) in the framework of the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Vienna. According to him, discussions on exchange of territories do not lead to the right direction. The Austrian EU presidency is also sceptical. “Changes of borders, as we have seen from time to time, pose problems”, said Austria's Foreign Minister, Karin Kneissl.

The proposal for exchange of territories envisions that parts of the Serb-run northern Kosovo through the Serbian republic. In exchange for the Presevo region in southern Serbia, with Albanian majority joining Kosovo. Kosovo, mostly inhabited by Albanians ten years ago, broke out of Serbia. Belgrade, referring to medieval monasteries and battles in Kosovo, seeks to retake the province. For years, the EU has been trying without result to mediate between its conflicting neighbours. The agreement with Kosovo is the main condition, for Serbia as a candidate for EU membership to draw closer to Brussels.

Among other things, Serbia's President Aleksandar Vuciq and Kosovo's Hashim Thaci have expressed this option. But if that really happens, there's a lot of doubts. One of the reasons is that, for implementing such an agreement, Thaci may lack the necessary majority in parliament.