“The plugins are real that Trump is in the meeting to be held in Washington”

The meeting between Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, who has been warned to be held on September 4th at the White House in Washington, is expected to be a step towards a peaceful agreement between the two countries, but it still remains unclear what concrete talk will be discussed at this meeting, say connoisseurs of political developments, Agon Maliqi and Artan Mujaziri.

The invitation, leaders of Kosovo and Serbia for the meeting in Washington has been made by National Security Adviser Robert O'Brain. National Security Council spokesman John Ulliot has said that the United States welcomes talks between Kosovo leaders and Serbia, naming them as the key “”.

“We believe in progress on economic issues, including job creation and accelerating economic growth, as a first step towards progress in the peace process”, Ulliot has said in a response to Radio Free Europe.

Political affairs analyst Agon Maliqi tells Radio Free Europe that the resulting statements of Kosovo and Serbian officials have created the impression that both sides are confused about what concrete issues are expected to have any agreements.

According to him, the situation about what will be discussed at Washington is very unclear and perhaps, as he put it, the lack of transparency is deliberate, in order to prevent information flow. But, as he says, Council for National Security spokesman John Ulyot's statement suggests that at the September 4th meeting in Washington, there may be concrete agreements regarding drivers and economic projects. But, Maliqi does not rule out the possibility that part of the agreement also includes political pledges from the parties, though it remains unclear whether the parties are well prepared for Washington's meeting.

This is difficult to judge because of lack of transparency. But in view of the speed of the meeting, it is a little difficult to understand that for this period of time, there can be something very conservative, unless it is limited to economic matters or if it comes to materials prepared earlier and for which we have no information. But generally, it seems hasty and vague enough to predict many scenarios. Even people who are generally informed of the process do not know what to think of”, Maliqi said.

Political affairs analyst Artan Muhhaxhiri, speaking of Radio Free Europe, estimates that there is generally no advantage over what will be discussed at the September 4th meeting in Washington. According to him, the final stage of talks between Kosovo and Serbia cannot only be about economic issues, because for more, the dispute between the two countries is political and historical issues, as well as of great impact on the region's geopolitical and geostratency. As he says, the American insistence that it will only be talked about economic issues can only be like some kind of intervention and a tendency to ease the positions of parties -- Kosovo and Serbia -- which are completely opposite in the context of reaching a peaceful solution.

It is obvious that both sides will have to accept mutual conditions and make considerable compromises if they want to reach reconciliation. Continued mention of economic issues is made in order for even respective opinions to have some kind of expectation of improving their well-being in relation to compromises that will have to be made”, Muhrami stressed.

The meeting between the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia at the White House was originally scheduled to be held on 2 September. But he was delayed for two days later. Serbia's President Aleksandar Vuciq, on August 22nd, has declared that at this meeting “the possibility of US President Donald Trump” being presented, in case the parties agree on something.

Analyst Maliqi estimates it is completely real to expect President Trump's presence at the meeting of Kosovo and Serbia leaders at the White House. According to him, there is an attempt by President Trump's administration since the US presidential election campaign to promote several of his success in foreign policy. Mediating a peace agreement, according to Maliqi, coincides with the narration, which President Trump wants to present in his campaign for presidential elections.

I believe that will also depend on what the parties are agreeing to, and maybe its presence (President Trump) is in some form being used by the administration, as a kind of pressure or incentive for the parties to reach some sort of agreement, even something that, simply, may look good in public opinion and not necessarily something that is perhaps even a container. This, however, remains, at least for me, covered with very big mystery, so I would not rule out even any container agreement”, Maliqi said.

Even analyst Muhhaxhiri sees as real the possibility that President Trump will be part of the Kosovo and Serbian leaders' meeting. According to him, there are two reasons for such an opportunity. As he says, Trump's presence would give far greater weight to the dialogue process as well as to the American presence and influence on it. Also, as he estimates, this would be useful to President Trump in the final period of the US election campaign for president.

The “is now in recent months where President Trump can achieve a success in foreign policy, in the Balkans, and he would conclude to have a positive performance. But it is absolutely clear that we cannot expect a final deal from this meeting. We cannot expect any final solution to this issue, because there are no real preconditions for such a thing. However, there could be an advantage towards a final progress”, Muhramiri said.