3 minutes agoAmerican Professor: Kurti is using the license issue to force Serbia to deal with major issues
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)US Professor Charles Kupchan says the situation created between Kosovo and Serbia is serious and there is danger of further violence and impasse. American Council of External Relations researcher told the Voice of America on Tuesday that the EU and the US are right to worry, but added that pressure [...]
“The situation is very tense now, in the sense that we have reached a deadlock and the Kosovo government has agreed to a mere 48-hour extension, and there is a possibility that we will return to a danger to violence”, he said, referring to the postponement that the Kosovo government agreed to implement the fines for car plates in the north following the request of the United States.
Kupchan thinks the attitudes of both sides have merit.
“On the one hand he says, a change of status-quo could shake a delicate balance and create conditions for violence. On the other hand, Prime Minister Kurti is right when he says the Serbian side should engage in a genuine dialogue for normalisation. I think Kurt is using the car license issue as a way to force Serbia to deal with major issues”, says Mr. Kupchan.
He adds that it is clear that the situation is tense and that the European Union and the United States have the right to worry about possible consequences.
“I think the US and the EU should keep pressure on both sides, and the message to Belgrade should be to engage in a sincere dialogue with Kosovo for normalisation and therefore its recognition. On the other hand, I think that given the possibility of violence, since the situation is dangerous, pressure on Kosovo is understandable, since continuing the plan to implement the decision on car plates can shake the status-quo/Qu1>, he said.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Monday evening after meeting between Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, mediated by European Union Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell, failed, that both sides must make concessions to ensure that decades of hard-earned peace in a fragile” region.
Kupchan agrees talks are the best way.
“I think the best result would be for Belgrade to agree to sit on the table in terms of progress towards a final agreement. Otherwise we'll be in a blocked situation”, he said. / VOA
