Deutsche Welle writes about Kosovo summit expectations

Before the Berlin meeting with Chancellor Merkel and President Macron, Hashim Thaci has indicated he will discuss the possibility of continuing dialogue with Serbia, which must be concluded with a final agreement.

The two top Kosovo leaders do not expect the Berlin Summit to bring a new process, but, according to them at the summit, new opportunities will be sought for reaching an agreement to normalise Kosovo-Serbia relations.

From Kosovo, President Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj attend the Berlin meeting on Monday, where German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron await leaders of Western Balkan states.

President Hashim Thaci said that in recent days he has continued consultations with international partners for the Berlin conference, welcoming Germany and France's commitment to the Western Balkans in general, as well as Kosovo in particular”.

Kosovo expects support for visa liberalisation

The Berlin Meeting will not bring a new process, but will require opportunities for resolving problems, given the successful agreement between northern Macedonia and Greece. At the meeting the particular emphasis will be given to continue the possibility of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia for reaching a comprehensive and final agreement that will bring ever greater stability to the Western Balkans, President Thaci wrote in his account.

He expects Chancellor Merkel and President Macron to show support for visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens, such as respecting the contract between the European Union and Kosovo.

Kosovo has fulfilled all the criteria and deserves free movement like all other citizens of the region and the continent. If something like that does not happen, the Berlin meeting will be disappointing for Kosovo citizens. At this meeting I will also request the condemnation of Serbia's genocide state in Kosovo in 1998-1999”, President Thaci said.

The same attitude has been expressed by Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, whose government imposed additional taxes on Serbia's goods.

Haradinaj says his position is to recognise Kosovo from Serbia on existing borders and that he will not accept other ideas.

Pristina's “Delegation does not go to Berlin with old stories, division or exchange of territories. These are stories of the past century. In Berlin we will go more with how to resolve the recent issues between Kosovo and Serbia”, Haradinaj told Kosovo public media. According to him, the situation around the tax on Serbia's goods remains the same and can only be removed through mutual recognition of Kosovo-Serbia.

LDK: Bad border correction plan shuts down as idea

The opposition Democratic League of Kosovo party, in turn, thinks “The Berlin summit is an important event to launch a new dynamic towards normalising interstate relations throughout the Western Balkans.

So wrote in his profile, LDK parliamentary group chief Avdullah Hoti.

“given Germany's position regarding dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, I believe the evil plan for restructuring borders will be closed as an idea. We need an agreement with Serbia that makes conflict between the two states forever impossible, ensures mutual recognition and Serbia takes responsibility for crimes committed in Kosovo. Correcting the border does not ensure such an” agreement, Hoti wrote.

In Pristina, media write that the Berlin Summit, held under the organisation of Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Emmanuel Macron, is seen as an opportunity for countries in the Western Balkan region to benefit from joint projects.

But in recent months, especially since the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and the taxing of Serbian goods has been tough on the tone between Pristina and Belgrade, on charges and against charges.

Serbia says without taxing, it does not resume dialogue with Kosovo, while official Pristina says the tax can be lifted only when Serbia recognises Kosovo's independence. / DW/