Who gave the green light for the idea of changing borders?

Kosovo President Thaci has earlier stressed that “correction of the border with Serbia” will have international support if this issue is reached to be included in the agreement to normalise reports between the two countries.

But has President Thaci been transparent enough about his idea and had it even before as an option?

Politologist Ramush Tahiri, speaking of Radio Free Europe, expresses the conviction that the idea existed even earlier, but its flow by President Thaci is the result of the impasse in Brussels. The stalemate, according to him, has been marked precisely over the issue of demarcation of the border, which both sides -- Kosovo and Serbia -- see as very important.

“has been silent and talked, simultaneously. It's been a part of the conversation all along. If the problem of Kosovo and Serbia or of Serbs and Albanians is considered that apart from national collective rights, there is also a territorial problem, if it is considered that borders have been not fair and have been part of the conflicts, then it is acceptable that these borders be established on the will and will of both states and two peoples. On this basis, President Thaci has publicly clarified that his idea has international backing”, Tahic stressed.

However, political affairs analyst Agon Maliqi suggests. He tells Radio Free Europe that President Thaci has not been quite clear in breaking up the idea for, as he has said, “correction of the” border. The president's statements regarding this idea, according to him, were more tactical than content.

“According to him (President Thaci), negotiations with Serbia (for the border) have already begun or possibly even had some communication, behind the stage. So, did it have to be transparent? Perhaps not, for in such processes it is difficult to be transparent with opinion. However, the least the president could have done is to expand the circle. Few, to become more involved in the political spectrum, and other parties, in order not to monopolize this issue, because it is not its monopoly and to have little more involvement, as well as to eliminate the unjusties”, Maliqi said.

While President Thaci has voiced conviction that “border correction with Serbia” will have international support, he has not yet indicated whether or not there was any green “synal from international factors for disposing this idea.

Politologist Tahiri believes that there has been a reconciliation of the two presidents, Thaci and Vuciq, but also of designated international factors for the spread of the idea.

The Green Window, I'm sure, has given the negotiating parties in this case, but also the international parties, because any solution that ensures peace and stability is acceptable. European states that oppose the opening of the border issue fear that borders will be opened under this principle even in other countries and cause destabilisation. The United States of America is pragmatic, and any solution, which is acceptable to you, is also for us, because you are a party”, Tahiri said.

But, analyst Maliqi expresses the opinion that Kosovo's political and institutional leaders, so far, have never made important decisions for the country, without having a reconciliation with strategic Western partners.

Nevertheless, according to him, regarding the idea of changing the border, there is already a crying within Kosovo's strategic allies. As he says, the US is in favour of leaving space for parties to discuss the possible solution, while Germany has voiced a lot of reluctance towards Thaci's idea and Great Britain has voiced opposition.

It is true that Kosovo has almost never taken such actions without the approval of strategic partners. Now, no one can say for sure, but American statements and attitudes that we will have to leave space for the parties may in some form be interpreted as green solutions to consider such alternatives. So Kosovo is given the right to consider this opportunity. So, of course, without that kind of change in American position, I don't believe President Thaci himself would undertake this” initiative, Maliqi praised.

However, while Serbian President Vuciq has stressed that he is powerless before objections to the idea of changing the border by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Thaci, on Tuesday, has said that only the peaceful border-changing agreement between Kosovo and Serbia provides Kosovo with formal recognition from Serbia. / REL