Some against some pro Lajcak as EU representative for Dialogue

Slovakia's Foreign Minister, Miroslav Lajcak, is expected to be the European Union's special representative in the Kosovo dialogue, Serbia after the US appointment of Richard Green. However, with this EU proposal, Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, who has so far been one of the main protagonists of dialogue with Serbia, is not reconciled. While the Kosovo government has not commented on Lajcak's potential appointment, European policy connoisseurs are seeing it as useful in the process.

Demush Shasha, executive director of the Kosovo Institute for European Policy (EPIK), in a response to “Zerin” has said Lajcak's possible appointment as a special EU mediator could be useful for normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Shasha says Lajcak is a diplomat who enjoys international respect based on 20-year diplomatic experience, especially in the Western Balkans. “Lajcak has been Slovakia's ambassador to several Balkan countries, the overseer of Montenegro's independence referendum, EU representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, managing director for Russia, Eastern Community and the Western Balkans in the European Foreign Service, Slovakia Foreign Minister, as well as president of the United Nations Assembly. Consequently Mr. Lajcakur should be seen as a positive signal to advance the normalisation of Kosovo relations -- Serbia” -- Shasha has said.

The connoisseur of European integration issues Besnik Vasol agrees. He points out that, given his experience with the countries of the region, Lajcak can play a constructive role in the process. “Lajcak had a bitter political experience in BiH, and this is a chance to improve his image. He recognises the region well, served twice in the region, first was committed to overseeing Montenegro's independence referendum in 2006, and later during 2007, the 2009 EU special representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina was committed to the quality of the international community's high representative. He also has experience with EU institutions”, Vasol added.