Is the US taking the lead role in Kosovo dialogue Serbia?

Strengthening the American role is seen as necessary, since the European Union is considered a less powerful partner to lead the parties towards a possible deal.

Meanwhile, the role of Germany and France is also considered to have faded after failing to hold the Paris summit on July 1st, where French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had planned to invite the parties to a higher-level meeting.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has declared Monday in Pristina that after, as he has called it, the failure in Berlin and the failure to hold the meeting between Pristina and Belgrade in Paris on 1 July, both states, both Kosovo and Serbia, have taken steps back in their prospects.

Thaci considers that despite developments in the region and wider there should be greater unity within Kosovo.

“For failure in Berlin and Paris, both countries have won nothing but nothing, both have done from one step back to the European perspective”, Thaci said.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci made these comments at the <x1-Zorm People's Voice conference about the Great Finales between Kosovo and Serbia”, organised by the European Affairs and Development Research Institute (RIDEA).

He also said that now when the European Union, according to him, is weaker, it should be called on the United States of America for a more active role in the Kosovo dialogue process Serbia.

“I think it should be our call for a more active US role and better co-ordination with the European Union, when we see there is no unity within the EU and we are dealing with a more weakened European Union. We also see from public opinion that citizens' trust in the process for the EU does not exceed 40 % while for the US over 80%, so such co-ordination could succeed”, Thaci said.

Political science professor at Saint Mary University in London James Ker Lindsay told Radio Free Europe that the main partner in the Kosovo dialogue, Serbia, should be the European Union, despite the fact that Washington is currently considered a crucial partner in the process.

The main “Partner should be the European Union. But the EU's position in this case has weakened. Why? We are at the end of the Commission's (European) mandate and the persons and authority dealing with these talks are leaving. You have great divisions for these issues in Pristina for the future of dialogue. Suddenly the US role becomes a leading role, but everything must be done for EU membership. EU membership must be what drives all this dialogue process” forward, Lindsay said.

He considers that the United States of America can have a constructive and positive role. The only way, according to him, for things to be done between Pristina and Belgrade is for the international community to be united and the US and the European Union to work together.

For now we're not seeing such a thing. We are seeing divisions within the EU, we are seeing major differences between EU and US countries. Germany and Great Britain have a position that is not the same as the US. France has another position. The European Commission has a position similar to that of the US, but Germany opposes that European Commission position. Nothing will happen at the moment before these divisions are passed, Lindsay said.

On the other hand, Serbia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Ivica Dacic, has declared that it is not real that only the United States of America is involved in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

There are currently no warnings for any change in dialog format. The European Union moderates this dialogue”, Dachic said, adding that if the eventual agreement is reached, it must be verified ( approved) at the UN Security Council.

“at this stage, now it is not pre-foresed for one to participate in the dialogue itself. It is difficult to expect only the United States to engage in dialogue and that no one else is involved. This is not real”, Daciq said at a press conference with Norway's diplomatic chief, Ina Eriksen Sorided.

According to him, it is of key importance to Belgrade that the compromise solution to the Kosovo issue be reached, but that solution cannot be <x0med <x0m> embed”, whether Serbia will accept Kosovo on its entire territory.

Serbia is not setting obstacles to the continuation of dialogue, we are just seeking to remove existing obstacles so that it can continue with dialogue”, Dacic stressed.

Dacic has estimated that with the postponement of the meeting of the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo in Paris, the “has issued an opportunity to unblock dialogue”.

On the other hand, Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has said that concluding political dialogue with Serbia with reaching a legally binding agreement, which according to him implies mutual recognition, is the national interest of Kosovo.

I have no doubt that the agreement can be reached this year, legally binding agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, but if it doesn't happen, we will enter a dangerous phase of these reports, which can destabilise not only our reports as two states, but also the country”, it has indicated.

Thaci has said that Kosovo is ready for dialogue, so that, as he has expressed, the report with the state of Serbia is once and for all clarified.

Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, with European Union mediation in Brussels, started in 2011.

Currently, this process has been blocked as Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq mentioned the 100 per cent tax, which, the Government of Kosovo, has decided on Serbia's imports, as a rationale for not continuing dialogue.

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj on the other side has said this move will continue to apply until Serbia recognises Kosovo's citizenship.

Unfortunately, the current situation and developments are not at all promising. Things are not moving at all and we are currently counting, despite recent initiatives to unlock dialogue, the result is zero. The lack of dialogue and perspective for reaching an agreement on normalising reports between Kosovo and Serbia is the largest possible risk to security and stability for both countries and the region”, Thaci has added.

Research conducted by the Research Institute for European Affairs and Development (RIDEA) has found that 32 per cent of Kosovo's citizens have supported changing the border between Kosovo and Serbia and recognising Kosovo in the international arena.

President Thaci has reiterated that the option of changing the border or demarcation has ensured the greatest support of Kosovo citizens, despite what Thaci has considered a negative political party campaign against this scenario.

But Thaci's idea, for restructuring or demarcation of the border with Serbia, from the opposition spectrum in Pristina is also considered an option that could lead to division and ideas for exchange of territories.

Vetevendosje Movement Chairman Albin Kurti has said on the other hand that Serbia's plan for partitioning Kosovo has failed, but according to him, the idea for the issue is still alive. /rel/