Lajcak: EU hand in hand with US in Kosovo dialogue- Serbia

In an interview for the Austrian news agency APA, he said the crisis caused by the Coronavirus showed that the EU must be the fastest and most visible “in the Western Balkans. According to him, the exchange of territories between Kosovo and Serbia is not on the agenda.

“We have seen a very strong negative response for replacing territories in Kosovo and other countries in the region, as well as in EU countries. This leads me to conclude that it is not on the agenda, nor should it be on the agenda”, Lajcak said.

Speaking about European diplomacy chief Josep Borrell's statements that he does not rule out a change of borders, and that the agreement and its contents are the responsibility of both countries and that the EU cannot determine anything, Lajcak said Borrell stressed that the EU is targeting a legally harmonised “agreement.

“We need a deal that calms the situation,” said the EU special representative.

Reactions to the territorial exchange idea, according to him, showed “very clearly” that it would bring “the opposite heads”.

Lajcak has declined to comment on claims of a secret agreement on the exchange of territories between Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vuciq, who is backed by the US, as some claim.

“I am not working on the basis of speculation”, Lajcak said, adding that he had not seen such a plan in any case.

Lajcak also declined to comment that the United States, through special envoy Richard Green, was also involved in the collapse of Albin Kurti's government as Kurti himself claimed.

The only thing that is important, Lajcak praised is a stable government that enjoys broad support from parliament and the population.

The United States has always been the EU's most important international partner in Kosovo,” said Lajcak.

Lajcak sees the role of the EU and his personal role in the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia, mainly in the role of mediator. He does not think coming from a country that has not recognised Kosovo is an obstacle. He even views it as a “option”, but adds it does not represent Slovakia, but the entire EU.

To remain faithful as an actor, the EU must make a decision on visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens as soon as possible, but Lajcak has declined to answer which countries are not supporting that.

The EU special representative said the issue is currently being negotiated and that it was “canonically optimistic” that an agreement will be reached soon.

When asked what result he would like to see at the end of his mandate, Lajcak said some things have been said better than they have been achieved.

The goal is to have a legally binding agreement between the two sides that clarify all open issues, that it is in line with international law and on all sides politics and people in both countries, the region, but also all EU member states will be accepted and recognised. There is no reason to delay the process, but ultimately, quality is more important than a quick “agreement, Lajcak said.