Lajcak: Washington agreement represents nothing but European dialogue has international legitimacy

The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo will meet immediately to resume the dialogue mediated by the European Union, which will normalise relations and set the two nations on a path towards membership in the European Union, EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak told Euromother.

Lajcak, a former Slovak foreign minister, said a date has been set for a meeting between Kosovo's new prime minister, Albin Kurti and Serbian President Alexander Vuciq. He added that it would soon be announced by European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

Lajcak stressed after a visit to Pristina and ahead of a visit to Belgrade that the EU-brokered dialogue was the only way for membership in the European Union for both nations. Talks began a decade ago, but have stalled in recent years.

“There is no other way about dialogue for both Serbia and Kosovo”, Lajcak said, the EU special representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. Their European path passes through dialogue. That's what matters. Kurt knows it, as well as Vuciq”, he added.

Kurti, who was elected prime minister after a major victory in February, has repeatedly said she wanted a pardon from Serbia for her actions during the 1998-99 conflict, which led to the shift of up to a million Kosovars and at least 20 thousand dead.

But questioned about Kurti's recent actions and comments, Lajcak meant that what Kosovo leader says behind closed doors was more important.

What really matters is what is said at the meeting, what both sides sit down together and discuss. Of course, they make many public statements [...] but what really matters is what is said at the” meetings, he said.

Regarding the genocide issue, Lajcak said that “look, this has not yet become official. Of course, there have been statements to the public, to the media, but what matters is the official position that will be presented at the” meeting.

“We repeatedly repeat to our partners that it is also their responsibility to create an atmosphere that is favourable for a positive process of dialogue and to refrain from unilateral actions or statements that tend to exacerbate enmity”.

Lajcak was also positive about the change of government in the US after incumbent US President Joe Biden won in November, saying EU negotiators now had <x0 most closely related work relations with the United States”.

President Donald Trump and his Balkan envoy, Richard Green, brokered an agreement in 2020 that saw Vuciqi and then Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti sign an agreement at the White House, surpriseing European negotiators.

Asked about the deal, Lajcak said that “they do not represent an agreement. [...]. It is only a relaxed dialogue by the EU that has international legitimacy”, he said.