American analyst: Transaction of territories could bring serious consequences to Balkans

An interview for Voice of America, he stressed that the best option is to address Serb minority rights within the existing borders that did not include the creation of a Serb republic in Kosovo similar to that in Bosnia. According to him, changing the American approach will enable Thaci and Vucic presidents to talk about exchange of territories in the dialogue mediated by Brussels.

Balkan Affairs analyst Edward Joseph warns that exchange of territories as a method of dealing with conflicts in the Balkans would have serious consequences for the region.

There are three objections to this idea. First, reaching and implementing such an agreement would be very difficult and complicated. We should also consider the impact such an agreement would have on minorities who would not benefit from it. Second, we need to see the impact this would have on Bosnia. Third, the impact this would have on Macedonia and the entire region. I think it would be very difficult to control the consequences of a settlement with exchange of” territories.

The focus of the solution, according to analyst Edward Joseph, should be on addressing the rights of Serbs within the existing borders of Kosovo, not shifting attention to changing borders.

The alternative is very clear. A consensus for the treatment of Serbian rights must be reached. For example, the Ohrid Agreement in Macedonia is a very good deal. Serbs deserve better protection, part of their concerns have already been addressed by the Ahtisaari Plan, but there may be other protections for them that do not include the creation of another Serbian republic like that in Bosnia. These alternatives have not been explored”.

But there is a difference in American access to the issue of exchange of territories, which was expressed by US Senator Ron Johnson, who visited Pristina this week.

I think everyone in the region understands how difficult it will be and people's concerns about it. But we want to stand aside, give the parties the space they need to find their solution. When they decide, we'll see it and if we have concerns, we'll probably say it”.

Analyst Edward Joseph points out that American officials' statements clearly show there is support for the exchange of territories as an option for resolving disputes between Kosovo and Serbia.

“Washington, John Bolton in Ukraine, a country that itself was the object of taking territory by force from the Russians, gave the green light to the idea of exchanging territories. This is not just an attempt to give the parties space, but a green light Bolton clearly gave by saying that we have no objections if the parties want to exchange territories and allow the parties themselves to resolve this. This is contrary to the earlier stance that has opposed that idea, and in which Serbia must normalise relations with Kosovo before it is membership in the European Union. So Washington's stance has changed”.

Joseph further said that for this reason Presidents Thaci and Vucic will likely discuss the issue of exchange of territories at their next meeting. He said they now have support in Brussels and Washington to discuss changing borders.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has voiced opposition to the idea of changing current borders in the Balkans, saying an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia on changing the border could have implications in other parts of the region.

Serbia has pledged that it will not recognise Kosovo's independence, which was declared in February 2008 with the support of the United States and the European Union. But it is involved in a process of talks on normalising relations with Kosovo, which is also a condition for the European integrations of both sides.