What are the expectations for today's Kurti-Vucciq meeting in Berlin?

Today's Berlin stay of the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia and the inclusion of Germany in the dialogue is considered to be giving new dynamics to the process of reaching the final agreement, but also as the possibility of bringing about unmet agreements so far, including the one for the plates.

Violet Hajolli from the Kosovo Democratic Institute tells Kosovo Press that Kosovo and Serbia should take seriously the demands that may come from Chancellor Scholz for reaching the final agreement, with the framework of mutual recognition.

In this direction, naming Prime Minister Kurti's meeting with German Chancellor Hajoll as very important, says the greatest pressure should be directed towards Serbia, as the same is reluctant to recognise Kosovo's citizenship.

The “Pals will also be required to devote more to the dialogue process and reach a final, legally binding agreement that is now required by the EU, demand in all official reports coming from the EU when addressing Kosovo and Serbia. The visit is certainly very important, I think Germany's role will provide a new dynamic dialogue process, as it comes from a very important EU state and I believe that Kosovo and Serbia will take very seriously the demands that may come from the German Chancellor. In this direction, I believe the greatest pressure should be directed towards Serbia, as it is this state that refuses to recognise the independent state of Kosovo and has made obstacles to reaching an agreement that at the centre has mutual recognition”, Hajoll declares.

On the other hand, dialogue process connoisseur Gazmir Racci tells Kosovo that of particular importance is the return of high-level dialogue and separately to the office of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. This, according to him, shows that the parties are returning to dialogue with a clear objective, reaching the final agreement.

The important thing is that high-level meetings are returning to the German Chancellor's office. This shows that Social Democrat Germany is also the same as Chancellor Merkel's Germany. This is important for Kosovo and the Western Balkans, because the parties are turning to dialogue to reach the final agreement as soon as possible. The meeting is also being held because of recent geopolitical developments and the war in Ukraine. Of course, Germany and the US are also interested in stabilising the Western Balkans as quickly as possible, so that it is not Russia's new crash arena”, Raci said.

Kurti-Vuchic's meeting, Violet Hajoll, also sees it as an opportunity to bring together discussions in some other non-recognising agreements, including the one for auto plates.

The issue of license plates and the issue of other agreements still facing the challenges of implementation may be a matter that may be mentioned, but I don't believe there may be any agreement at this meeting on this particular issue. I believe the discussion will focus on thick points as to the dialogue process in increasing the efforts of both sides to reach a final” agreement, she adds.

Last year, Prime Minister Albin Kurti held two meetings with Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, but without achieving any progress within the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

Today's Kurti-Wucciq meeting will happen with the presence of the mediator, at the same time the EU special minister for dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, who will also have a meeting with the German Chancellor in Berlin.