Joseph gives no hope: Berlin summit s '%s' to change dynamics of dialogue, Serbia gets iva advantage

The marathon meetings that took place in Berlin on May 4th, which focused on dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, were commented on as a step towards increasing dynamics in the dialogue process between the two countries.

But Professor Edward P. Joseph tells Kosovo Press that he essentially does not expect much change in the dynamics of this process even after these meetings.

“Basically, from this meeting I see little change in the dynamics of dialogue developments. People forget that the dynamics in dialogue were difficult even before Kurti became prime minister for the second time. The talks had failed when Hoti was prime minister, shortly after the signing of the Washington Agreement, when Belgrade engaged in a very provocative language apparently designed to prevent progress” he said.

According to him, in any case, it is clear that dialogue, as a step-by-step tool for progress, is largely powerless, because he adds, is also seen as the issue of license plates is linked to the comprehensive issue of sovereignty over Kosovo.

In January of this year's School of Advanced International Studies of the University “John Hopkins” and “Woodrow Wilson Center” > From the crisis to convergence ) strategy for fighting instability in the Balkans to its source” offered several proposals to enable unblocking disputes in the dialogue process.

Professor Edward P. Joseph led the team of researchers to draft this report, and from this experience says the real problem in dialogue is structural.

Serbia has the advantage of leverage against Kosovo. We've explained in January of this year with our SAIS and Wilson Centre report, from crisis to convergence. The dispute has been blocked because four NATO countries Greece, Slovakia, Spain and Romania do not recognise Kosovo. If they knew Kosovo, then Serbia's blockade of Kosovo, supported by Russia and China, would basically be meaningless. Instead, Serbia would finally have a reason to negotiate democratic and recognised conditions, as it could no longer isolate Kosovo”, he said.

To advance dialogue, according to him the road ahead remains if the four NATO members who have not recognised Kosovo can move towards recognition.

For example, by putting Kosovo into NATO's Partnership for Peace. The route of the Convergence that we recommended in our report remains the key to finally resolving the dispute over Kosovo and allowing the region to move forward”, he said.

By contrast, Professor Edward P. Joseph gave these comments, reflecting his opinion about the meetings that took place in Berlin and the possibility of accelerating dynamics in the EU-led Kosovo dialogue process Serbia and supported by the US. On Wednesday (May 04th 2022) in Berlin, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbia's President Aleksandar Vuqiric were hosted in separate meetings by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and in the evening they had an informal dinner with EU emissar for dialogue Miroslav Lajqak.

The West has stepped up efforts to push both sides towards reaching a final agreement to avoid the risk to security in the Balkan region as a result of Russia's brutal attack on Ukraine. /kp