Phillips: Trump seeks quick solution, but no such solution for Serbia's crimes

David L. Phillips, director of the Peace Building and Human Rights Programme at the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University in New York, has said that at the same time a good connoisseur of political circumstances in the Western Balkans region, about the meeting expected to be held on September 4th in Washington between Kosovo and Serbia delegations, he has said he does not expect any surprises from that meeting.

He says it is good to meet Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti with Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, as it proves dialogue is the preferred way to resolve differences, but stresses that the differences between the two countries are great.

I do not expect any surprises from the September 4th meeting between Prime Minister Hoti and President Vuciq. It's good to meet because this shows dialogue is still the preferred way to resolve differences. But the differences between Kosovo and Serbia are great; it will take time for their solution. Diplomacy is a process, not a “event, stated Phillips for “Zerin”.

He says the Trump administration wants a quick solution between the two countries in order to present it as a diplomatic victory before the US presidential elections.

However, there is no quick solution for Serbia's crimes. Peace can only be achieved when there is a comprehensive agreement involving the account for war crimes; compensation for stolen or destroyed properties; and for the full whiteening of the fate of the unscathed:x1>, he added.

The US presidential race has already entered the final phase, formalising two candidacys: Donald Trump from the Republicans for another term, and Joe Biden from the Democrats.

Beden had long ago criticised Trump's approach to the Kosovo- Serbia and the lack of co-operation with the EU on the issue. He had even said that if elected president, his administration would co-operate with the EU to facilitate an agreement between the two countries, which would result in mutual recognition, and preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both countries.

David Phillips thinks that Benden, in the event of victory in the US's November 3rd elections, would work on reaching an agreement that would advance Kosovo's interests.

The “should include recognition of Kosovo's sovereignty and territorial integrity on the part of Serbia within current borders. In addition, Belgrade must immediately stop its insidious campaign to prevent other global recognitions of Kosovo, and stop its efforts to force countries that have recognised Kosovo to withdraw recognitions. Vice President Biden recognises the Balkans and will work to reach an agreement that serves the goal of lasting peace, advancing Kosovo's interests”, David Phillips points out to Zeri.info.

He thinks that, in order for negotiations to succeed, greater trans-Atlantic co-operation is needed.

Contrary to President Trump, who despises alliances and multilatheralism, the Biden administration will stress working with allies. Concluding Rick Green to Kosovo is disrespectful. Trump diplomacy and pro-Serbian prejudice have been a failure. It dishonors thousands of Kosovo Albanians who died because of Serbia's assault”, the former State Department High Adviser who worked over the former Yugoslavia administration Clinton stressed.

Phillips said the dialogue co-ordinator, Skender Hyseni, whom the Kosovo government is sending to Berlin, Paris and Brussels, will underline the importance of transatlantic co-operation in the Kosovo-Serbia talks. According to him, Hyseni will also underline the importance of Chapter 35, which conditions Serbia's EU membership without an agreement for normalisation of reports and without mutual recognition with Kosovo.

Balkan Affairs Knower David Phillips says that if Serbia refuses reciprocal recognition with Kosovo, then it will remain a disfellowshipped country in Europe and a principled state for crimes that [Slobodan] has committed. Miloshevqi committed what Serbia's people condemned.

It is time to move forward and Serbs end their shame”, he said.

Speaking of the old proposal for two free economic zones, one in the northern part of Kosovo, and others in the Presevo Valley, Phillips says economic integration is a valid goal, but does not replace the agreement for mutual recognition.

The Kosovo government has shown support for the railway, the highway, and the expansion of air services between Kosovo and Serbia. However, the ranking is important. Technical agreements will stem from recognition. Kosovo fairly and empatheticly rejects small steps as replacing a full and comprehensive agreement”, David L. Phillips, director of the Peace Building and Human Rights Programme at the Institute for Human Rights Research at Columbia University in New York.

We remember that Phillips served as High Council of the State Department working on the former Yugoslavia during the Clinton Administration. He is the author of the “book Liberating Kosovo: Coercive Diplomacy and US Intervention” (Harwards Kennedy School). His new book is “Front Line Syria: From Revolution to Proxy W