BBC: Why correction of Kosovo- Serbia could lead to overcoming divisions

A historic moment or a proposal that could mean war? When it comes to the eventual correction of the borders between Kosovo and Serbia, it all depends on who you ask.

So writes the BBC in an analysis published today, drawn up by their Balkan correspondent Guy Delauney.

“Only speculation can be talked about it, and what parties can present in their concepts, prior to the presidents' meeting of the two countries in Brussels on Friday”, the BBC writes.

The idea seems completely simple.

The Presevo Valley, which lies in southern Serbia and is inhabited by Albanian majority, would join Kosovo.

In exchange, Serbia would re-function full control over the Serb-run residential part north of the Iber River, which runs into the heart of Mitrovica, the BBC writes.

The end of a dead end?

Supporters say an exchange of territory potentially would end the deadlock that has continued for 10 years, since Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia.

“Change of the border may seem unpopular, but many consider it a practical solution”, says James Ker-Lindssay, a Balkan specialist at London School of Economics.

“If there were a consensus agreement between the two sides, it would pave the way for a full normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina and allow Kosovo to eventually become a member of the United Nations”.

But before the idea is fully articulated, it is already on fire.

The Western Balkans experienced border changes in the 1990s.

More than 100,000 people died and millions moved into ethnically motivated conflicts.

Conflict recipe?

Paddy Ashdown has monitored the consequences in Bosnia as the International High Representative there.

He was co-authored of a request to the European Union's foreign policy chief, Federica Moghrini, to rule out any discussion on exchange of territory at the time.

“Crossing borders like this will not resolve divisions, deepen them,” said in the letter, warning that nationalist politicians can use a territory swap to fuel unrest for the breakup of Bosnia.

The stable peace can only come from learning to live in multiethnic communities, instead of revising borders to create them an ethnic one. [There is] no policy that is more likely to lead us to division and conflict in the Balkans than what some now seem to be supporting”, Ashdown's letter was quoted by the BBC.

Mrs. Moghrin has a key role in the game. She is a host of talks between Serbia's president

Aleksandar Vuciq and his Kosovo counterpart, Hashim Thaci, in Brussels.

Not to mention an extensive exchange of territory, it has urged both sides to resolve their differences.

The time has come to end the conflict,” she said on Monday.

“I am convinced that presidents Vuqic and Thaci will manage to reach a legally binding agreement on normalisation of relations, and that this agreement will be in line with international law and will help the stability of the entire region”, she was quoted as.

Brussels, Kosovo, Serbia's owski

Mrs. Moghrin's predecessor, Catherine Ashton, began normalisation talks. She told the BBC that the two presidents were “trying to reach an end to”, but international approval would be the key to any agreement.

The key to the solution will be the way Brussels responds, they will look to Berlin and talk to Paris and others.” In the end, this has to do with EU membership. ”

Germany has been very vocal in attitudes towards reforming borders, but still the reserves of other EU member states, such as Britain, which is a supporter of the dialogue process, are unclear.

It is surprising that EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn has spoken of a <x0->historic” for Serbia and Kosovo.

Local problems are another issue. Nationalists in Serbia and Kosovo will be reluctant to make an agreement providing assistance to the other side.

Former Kosovo Liberation Army Commander Ramush Haradinaj and current Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has strongly rejected the idea, saying changing borders would lead to war.

Meanwhile, ethnic Serbs living south of Ibri are concerned they will abandon if the north returns to Serbia.

A European diplomat told the BBC that the exchange of territory was “serio from the Serbian side”, but that the lack of unity in Pristina could be a problem.

Thaci has gone on this alone so far he has made no arguments to get people on board. This may be a convincing proposal, but he has to sell it”.

The United States has indicated it will not stand in the way of any bilateral agreements. The position of an ally of Serbia, Russia, is harder to assess; President Vladimir Putin will visit Belgrade next month.

Why now?

There are important rewards for both sides if they can agree to an agreement.

Kosovo can finally be recognised by the countries of 80 countries, which have refused to accept its legitimacy.

And Serbia will meet a key condition for its EU membership.

With Macedonia and Greece resolving their long-standing dispute over Macedonia's name, there is a fresh moment to resolve another Balkan debate