Serbia-Kosovo conflict extremely difficult

Analysts say, meanwhile, that the possibility of changing borders exists, but very complicated issues remain, and for now the possibilities for a quick agreement between the parties -- despite Brussels' insistence -- appear slim, comments America's “Voice”.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci is continuing to defend his idea of mending the border with Serbia as a way to resolve disputes peacefully despite widespread opposition to his ideas in Kosovo.

On Thursday, he again criticised Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, who has sometimes reiterated that changing borders, could lead to repetition of past tragedies.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Haradinaj said in an interview at a television in Tirana that “alone military boots and forces set limits”.

Those who are talking about wars, I'm preventing them, anyone who wants to start war. 430km are the border with Serbia the good way and let them go. The fight is not fought in television studios, but in the instinct of”, President Thaci said, countering the prime minister's statement.

This clash of statements between the two leaders of Kosovo institutions has continued since the opening of the debate on the possibility of changing borders as a way to reach agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. President Thaci's ideas are sharply opposed by the opposition, while the Vetevendosje movement has also warned protests.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, who goes to New York this weekend, said there is an opportunity to hold a brief meeting with US President Donald Trump during the work of the UN General Assembly.

I want once again to express my full thanks to President Trump and Vice President Pence and the entire American administration that are giving full support to the Kosovo-Serbia negotiation process and progress in Kosovo. It is fortunate that every step we have taken so far has been co-ordinated with the United States and the European Union”, President Thaci said.

The debates over the final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia included the differences manifested in the international community, a part that has opposed changing borders and another part that will accept any agreement that does not destabilise Balkan countries.

The Balkan Group's executive director for policy research, Naim Rashit, in a conversation with the Voice of America, says the negotiation process has big difficulties and uncertainty due to the parties' expectations. He says even the international factor is still not unanimous and has not given full support to this process to complete through changing borders.

Vice President Vuciq is still unable to articulate Kosovo's recognition as a final agreement, even if changing borders are involved and here is the main problem. While, on the other hand, Pristina will hardly accept something without recognition or in an experiment to take seat in the UN. More and more is being recommended to Pristina by friends to think of eventual recognition so that this process will not be extended and that Kosovo-Serbia dialogue will not be extended for years”, Rashi said.

Rashit says that opportunities not to have agreements by next spring -- the deadline set by the European side due to elections within the European Union -- are great. According to him, an agreement changing borders seems very difficult.

Even in the border issue, there are huge differences in attitudes between Kosovo and Serbia, which would include changing borders, which parts would affect, but this process would not be impossible but very complicated and it would need a great confidence between Kosovo and Serbia to achieve such peace, because there has never been a historical occurrence of”, he said.

He says the international approach towards Kosovo independence has not changed, but relations have gone to another stage, which relates to Kosovo's ability to reach agreement with Serbia on its own.

A comprehensive agreement on normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia is a condition for both countries for integration into the European Union. But it is still unclear what that agreement can be and what the possibilities for achieving it are. Even in Belgrade and Pristina, owners of these talks say they have little hope for it.