Borrell for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue: You're not walking, I'm disappointed

As the war in Ukraine continues to deteriorate day-to-day, concern grows, that Russian influence can become even stronger in the Western Balkans. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, at the same time European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell, hopes that European and not Russian influence in the region will prevail in these difficult times.

His statements were made by Albania, his second stop on this tour of the Western Balkans. Earlier, Borrell visited northern Macedonia and after Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina is next.

Mr. Borrell, why did you decide to visit Western Balkan countries right now?

Borrell: It's a good time, really good time. As you know, there's a war going on. There is a lot of Russian influence in the Balkans. It's a critical moment for the enlargement process. There is a problem that must be resolved between northern Macedonia and Bulgaria. And we have the prospect of membership amid geopolitical changes in the European picture.

How likely is the war in Ukraine to revive old conflicts in the region?

Borrell: The war in Ukraine will affect everything, from the price of foods that are a direct consequence of the war, to energy prices. Relations with Russia will never again be the same after what the Russians are doing with shelling cities, killing civilians, crushing the people of Ukraine. This will reinforce the Union in Europe and should be the major push to overcome some of the problems we have had, with the aim of accelerating the membership process. But the most important thing that is at stake today is not just the war between Ukraine and Russia, but respect for international law and human rights, the fight against jungle law, where the strongest oppresses the worst without justification, and that is why people who love freedom and want democracy should be involved.

Why is the Western Balkans so important right now?

Borrell: It's not more important than yesterday or tomorrow. The Western Balkans are important. It has been at the top of the European Union agenda and follows the same, but there are some events that are the catalysts of history, some events that change the relationship between actors and different factors. Russia will add influence to the Balkans, try to gain people's souls, try to implement many deinformation campaigns, try to convince people she is fighting against Nazism, that Zelensky is a war criminal, or that he is doing genocide against the Russians, as they are declaring. We have to oppose this exile and in the Western Balkans there's a lot of dezination ...

And does it have a lot of Russian influence?

Borrell: Very Russian influence. I hope that European influence is greater.

Let's hope. But when it comes to the Western Balkans, the Kosovo-Serbia relationship cannot be put aside. How do you predict dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade? Is he walking in the right direction?

Borrell: He's not walking. I'm in charge of this dialogue and it's not going. At least he's not moving at the pace he had to walk. The European Union has a mandate from the United Nations to co-ordinate, postpone and activate this dialogue. I've assigned one of the best diplomats for this task, and I have to say, more needs to be done, more work needs. We have to push both sides in order to understand that there is only one solution to the problem and that it comes through dialogue, knowing it will not be easy. It's a very complicated issue. You know how difficult and complicated Balkan history has been over the past 20 or 30 years. But the only solution to this problem is dialogue, and I'm promoting it, but I'm disappointed that we are not moving at the pace that requires the problem, because the European perspective of both countries is being fully dominated by the outcome of this dialogue.

Yes, but both sides insist there are some topics that have not yet been resolved. For example, the Kosovo government has problems with implementing the agreement on the inclusion of Serb majority municipalities, and on the other hand, you recently warned Serbia not to deny genocide and to exalt the figures of war criminals. These are big issues...

Borrell: I don't think we can go into the details of mutual complaints, these agreements, what happened, what we agreed on, what wasn't fulfilled. Don't make me repeat the dialogue for the many hours I've had with both sides. I know there are some points that have no agreement about, but that's the purpose of dialogue. How can things be resolved if they don't talk to each other?

Is there a solution for them to speak and find a final solution?

Borrell: There is no choice but dialogue.

We go back to Albania. In your opinion, has Albania fulfilled reforms related to European integration?

Borrell: All agree that Albania has met the technical criteria, this is not something new. The European Commission has declared this and informed member states, because it is the Council's decision from the point of view of the Commission, which is in charge of running the process, we have a Commissioner in charge of enlargement, my counterpart Oliver Varhelyi, Albania has met the criteria.

But will Albania continue to be deemed inseparable by North Macedonia?

Borrell: For now, the Council has decided that it is better if the two countries advance together, which we call mating. The two countries move forward together, there is synergy, there are savings in the procedures, and it's good, because the more countries, the better. But, obviously, there are problems between Bulgaria and Northern Macedonia, and these problems we have to solve. Many are fully involved in this effort. Me personally, but many more. And I hope, and I am making all my efforts together with many others, such as Commissioner Varhely, Commission President, President of the Council, in order to resolve this problem and enable both countries to start negotiations in order to resolve this problem and enable both countries to start negotiations before the French presidency closes.

Will the war in Ukraine slow down or speed up the decision to open negotiations?

Borrell: War in Ukraine is Europe's alarm bell. War shows the need for more unity, the need for the Western Balkans not to be allowed to lag behind in terms of European development. War in Ukraine shows the need for Europe to be stronger, more united, and to speed up some subsequent processes. So I guess this is a good occasion, it's a historic moment. And I would like to give a message to all those involved in the process to try to overcome the difficulties, so that the two countries can open negotiations before the French presidency ends.

How do you see the position of the Western Balkan countries regarding the war in Ukraine? For example, positioning Serbia?

Borrell: Various Western Balkan countries have different relations with Russia. This is historical and geographical fact, but largely historical, and it is no secret that Albania is much more in line with the European Union in its foreign policy than Serbia. However, it should be said that Serbia has voted against Russia in the UN General Assembly Resolution as a very important step leading to the European Union, while talking about human rights, national sovereignty, and respect for international law.