Petrich: After pause in dialogue, think of an international conference

Austrian diplomat Wolfgang Petrich, in a long interview for the Serbian-language BBC edition, has talked about the flow of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, the blocking process, the idea of redressing borders and other aspects.

Speaking of the idea of correcting borders and exchanging territories, Petrich has said he was initially open to such an idea but stresses that he was convinced such an idea was not a solution that could be applied in the 21st century.

“Border changes occurred in the past through war and conflicts”, Petrich told BBC, broadcast Express.

In this interview, the Austrian diplomat has also indicated Germany's minimal opposition to the idea of changing and exchanging territories.

I was told that we know what they don't want in Berlin, but they didn't tell us what they wanted”, Petrich explained.

He says that even if the two sides agreed to change borders, the consensus of the parties involved would be necessary and that this would take much time to analyse the entire process in detail.

Otherwise, there are no good or perfect solutions in the Balkans”, conkludon Petrich.

As he talks about the involvement of major powers in finding a final solution to the Kosovo-Serbia problem, Petrich says involving the United States of America would present problems for the process.

I, as European, would not like to see an American solution to the European problem”, Petrich said.

Austrian diplomat, meanwhile, has no hesitation in praising Russia's current ambassador to Belgrade, Alexander Bocan-Harchenko, who had been known during his time as High Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Russian diplomats are real professionals, they don't have political positions like Americans”, Petrich said.

He has added to this interview, among other things, openly acknowledged that he has committed himself to bringing Kosovo President Hashim Thaci as much as possible to Serbia's Aleksandar Vuciq, thus revealing that he had also been the initiator of the organisation of the Alpbakh Forum in Austria, this forum where discussions on border correction started for the first time.

I proposed such a meeting to the Austrian president, so it was organised at the Alpbach” Forum, Petrich said.

In addition, the Austrian diplomat proposes changing the format of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, saying it would be a good idea to organise an international conference.

Speaking about Russia's role in the Kosovo talks and the return of the Contact Group, Petrich says that “Moska is sending orders to Washington that it is impossible for the US to come to the Balkans and take things into its hands by stressing its interests.

And according to Petrich, Moscow is sending a special message to the EU.

“Moscow wants to derail the situation, because it does not want a strong and established EU, and the Balkans is a testimony to this”, Petrich has said.