Westerlund for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue: Set deadlines, good recommendation

Sweden's Ambassador to Kosovo, Jonas Westerlund, has expressed disappointment with the lack of results in the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue. He thinks setting deadlines could be a good option to speed up resolving issues between the two countries, but warns it is not easy.

Westerlund, who has been involved in 10 different mediation processes, in an interview for The KP claims that solutions exist for all conflicts.

I think that when you're a mediator of a dialogue it's always hard, I never know how long you have to work, I've probably worked in 10 different intermediation processes, let's say in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Caucasus, and you never know how long it will take you, but in practically all conflicts there is a possible solution. Some people talk about frozen cods, but instead they should be called frozen solutions, so there's a solution to it. I'm optimistic, no miracle will happen in this dialogue, it will take time, but I think the normalisation dialogue is improving and the Franco-German plan is worth”, the Swedish ambassador declares.

He says it is disappointing that there has been no more progress since 1999, when he was in Kosovo as part of the OSCE mission. So you feel that setting deadlines could be a good recommendation.

I think it's very frustrating that we haven't made much progress since I visited Kosovo in 1999, so I'm very disappointed. I believe that a proper plan and regular negotiations with the right deadline can be an option. All depends on the two capitals (Pristina and Belgrade) and Lajcak certainly, but if you ask me this (the set of deadlines) would be a good recommendation”, he said.

In February of this year, Russia launched its aggression in Ukraine, making Europe a much more uncertain country.

Serbia chose not to condemn this aggression and not harmonise its foreign policies with the European Union to condemn Russia.

But the Swedish ambassador says he is happy that Kosovo has chosen the opposite and wants all countries to follow Kosovo's example.

“S first let me stress that the European Union, and Sweden as an EU member, of course, is very pleased that Kosovo has approached its foreign policy with members of the European Union, when it comes to sanctions and criticise Russia for its aggression against Ukraine. I don't want to comment Serbia's position on this issue, it's up to the Swedish ambassador in Belgrade, but we are very pleased with Kosovo's stance on this issue, and we call on all neighbouring countries to do the same, to follow Kosovo's example in this matter”, the Swedish ambassador follows.

Kosovo and Sweden enjoy excellent reports. Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt was even the first foreign minister of a country to visit Kosovo after declaring independence in 2008.

Since his arrival in August this year, Ambassador Westerlund says he has been trying to focus more on trade co-operation between the two countries. He says Kosovo is an attractive place for Swedish investors, but developments in the Balkans generally force them to choose other countries.

I intend to focus too much on wood processing and mobile industry. I'd like to focus on ecotourism. I've got a lot of help from institutions here in Kosovo... I think my challenge is more to convince some of the Swedish companies to invest here, and it has more to do with the situation in the Balkans, which sometimes makes Swedish companies choose other countries in the world”, Westerlund said.

Some 70 thousand Kosovo Albanians are estimated to live in Sweden. Ambassador Westerlund aware of this stressed that this could serve as a platform to deepen economic co-operation.

He also expresses his ambition to establish a Swedish Economic Ode in Kosovo.

I think this is an excellent platform. We have about 70,000 Kosovo Albanians, we also have a second generation in Sweden, and this is extremely useful. Many of them are very successful in the academy and in many small businesses in Sweden - absolutely. My goal is to open a Nordic Economic Ode, or a Swedish Economic Ode in Kosovo. I am considering this opportunity, and of course I will work very closely with many Kosovo Albanians in Sweden”, Westerlund declares.

Sweden, which along with Finland, aims to become part of NATO, promises to also help Kosovo towards membership in the North-Atlantic Alliance.

We can have very good co-operation. Once we become members, of course, we can always share with Kosovo some of the things we have learned. It's complicated to apply to international organizations nowadays, it takes time and you also have to sort out all your ideas and plans. So it's a difficult way to become a member of international organizations nowadays”, Westerlund said.

Otherwise, Sweden will take the lead with the European Union's rotating Presidency, which changes once every 6 months and is expected to play an important role in reviewing Kosovo's application for membership in the European Union.