Serbia s'e intends to give no Kosovo territory”

While in Kosovo it is being debated for the correction of borders between Kosovo and Serbia through a final agreement, for Bulgarian politician Anton Panchev it is meaningless that Kosovo negotiates its division.

In an interview for Kosovo Preress, Panchev has expressed his full conviction that dialogue is the only way to find solutions, though he stresses that much caution is needed.

He warns the Kosovo side to set red lines for Serbia so as not to contest its sovereignty and territoriality.

This is where the mediator's help is needed. According to me, everything is clear, with these negotiations, the Republic of Kosovo must defend its sovereignty, independence, constitutional order of the country and make efforts to protect Albanians in the Valley. I'm aware it's very difficult to do that, but the Republic of Kosovo has its allies. Serbia has different problems with its neighbours, such as Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, even with Romania -- that is, Pristina, Kosovo is not alone in this process, but should not have any swings in that direction. Kosovo should not negotiate its territorial integrity and sovereignty”, he has said.

Bulgaria's Albanologist and politicalologist says that under international public law, border correction is a normal process, but it's simply about de-trading and demarcation of the border, without implying exchange of territories.

While adding that it is Serbia that will not give a square meter of its territory, as it aims to evacuate the Presevo Valley, Medvedja and Bujanoc.

It even relaxes hopes that a union of the Valley with Kosovo could happen, as Serbia will not give up those territories for strategic and nationalist reasons.

“Lidership in Belgrade has no intention of giving these territories to Kosovo. Serbia will not give up these territories for different reasons, both strategic and nationalist. He will fear that other regions, such as Sandzak and Vojvodina, will require more autonomy. So this cannot be accomplished. I know the dreams of Albanians, but we have to be realistic”, he opened up.

At the same time, speaking of Serbia's recent state actions towards Kosovo citizens, where it had stopped several times and even arrested Kosovo citizens, Panchev says a considerable part of the responsibility falls on the European Union.

Serbia will make even more provocations because of negotiations. This is the Serbian strategy from the start. Also, Serbia does not implement the agreements reached, it continues to fail to implement them. This strategy, quite negative, also has a bad effect not only on the two sides but also on the region, because Bulgaria has problems similar to the Bulgarian minority in Serbia, where Belgrade put pressure on this community and on representatives of the Bulgarian community there. So, here's where the EU as a mediator is to blame, because Brussels officials don't respond in the right way. Over Serbia, there must be constant pressure on implementing the agreements, on condemning provocations”, the politician said.

As for the association of Serb municipalities in Kosovo, Balkan affairs expert says Serbs in Kosovo have many rights and their expansion through this form would be harmful to the country.

Otherwise, albanologist Anton Panchev is staying in Pristina under the Albanian International Language, Literature and Culture Summit.