Compromise or a new round of disputes: What is expected from Thursday's Kurti Vuciq meeting in Brussels

Dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo continues this week in Brussels. But authorities in Pristina and Belgrade do not expect much of this meeting. Quitting the threats is one of the possible results, writes the DA.

The upcoming meeting in Brussels of Kosovo and Serbian leaders is expected with scepticism in both Pristina and Belgrade. After about a year of silence and after recent threats between the parties, where even words of war, violence and conflict are mentioned, the most possible under these conditions is for the parties to pledge to give up on promotional rhetoric. The sides accuse each other of lack of will to implement agreements.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has declared these days to foreign media that Serbia is threatening to undermine stability and peace in the region. And President Vjosa Osmani- Sadriu has also mentioned the risk of instrumentalising Serbia and Serbs in Kosovo by foreign forces, primarily from Russia, for its purposes.

On the other hand, Serbia's President Aleksandar Vuciq has also used dramatic words in statements on opinion, saying that “are preparing liquidation of our people in northern Kosovo“. He “lut” Albanians and primarily the international community not to allow that, adding that “Serbia will win”.

Expectations From Dialogue

I'm going to Brussels to talk. I don't think there's going to be any results, but I'm going to talk to”, Vuciq said. According to him, the only hope of achieving something more is if the Quinti countries exert political pressure on the Albanian side.

Kosovo and Serbia's leaders will meet separately in Brussels even with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who will recognise them with alliance plans in case of escalation of the situation. While the European Foreign Affairs Service (EEAS) has called on both sides at the weekend to ban promotional rhetoric and to be responsible, so that there is no escalation of violence in the region. This invitation has triggered harsh reactions in Belgrade.

Petar Petkovic, the Serbian representative in the dialogue, says the unfigured “apel for both sides is throwing gasoline on the fire and is encouraging the Kurti regime to destabilise the situation in Kosovo and in the region”.

Serbia's prime minister, Ana Brnabiq, sees this invitation to the European side “as an unpleasant joke”. “Plot 175 days, Albin Kurti provoked an armed conflict with Serbs in a year that will be remembered as the year in which Kurti deprived Serbs of basic human rights by preventing them from voting. In addition to a futile written statement, the EU has done absolutely nothing in this direction”, the prime minister's statement in Titter said. While Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin says „Belgrade is only responding to Pristina's folly and will not start conflict at all“.

The vicious circle

“I think dialogue has entered the measurement phase of forces between the parties, when each side has more caution not to benefit the other side than to make its own profit”, says Professor Ivo Viskovic of the DI. According to him, this is a bad “option, where there will be no positive results. Things are in a vicious circle in particular when it comes to existential issues“, he claims.

While according to some sources, Prime Minister Kurti is preparing for mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia as states in Brussels, Vuciq will again insist on discussing the municipality of predominantly Serebe municipalities, says journalist Milivoje Mihaljovic of DE.

Belgien Albin Kurti, Ministeripräsiden vom Kosovoo

“Based on this, we cannot expect much from this round of dialogue”, he says and adds: “What I expect from this round is the removal of threats of conflict there”

Russia's Role

Serbian sources say the Albanian “pala is trying to take advantage of the most favourable geopolitical situation with its recent provocative movements”. Due to the failure to impose sanctions on Russia, Serbia has raised doubts in the West and is seen as a kind of silent ally of Russia, which Pristina is trying to use as its advantage and change the situation on the ground.

Ivo Viskovic points out that “this is nothing new in politics” and that the Albanian “pa is really trying to take advantage of this favourable moment”. But he does not think there will be any big difference. The only thing that can be unpleasant to Serbia is the possibility of accession for Kosovo to become a member of different international organisations. Serbia would probably react strongly and things would be back at the beginning,” believes Viskovic.

Ropposition reactions

The Serbian opposition, but also numerous analysts in Belgrade, warn that Aleksandar Vuciq has signed numerous documents, starting with the Brussels Agreement, and that the Albanian side is now only trying to implement these agreements. According to these interpretations, it is not clear why Serbia is now starting such a drama if it has signed these documents itself and agreed with them. While others say the agreement on the creation of the Serb majority municipality has been signed in Brussels, neither has it been implemented.

After the signing, authorities in Kosovo have demanded that this agreement confirmed by the Constitutional Court, which has concluded that the initial agreement cannot be implemented because in many parts of it falls against the Constitution. But the Serbian side wants it implemented in its initial form.

Analyst Milivoje Mihajlovic says “in Brussels has been signed and it should be implemented”. This issue, according to him, is being used for domestic political warfare between position and opposition in Kosovo. “Albin Kurti will be forced to go to new elections that strengthen his position. So far, it has always benefited in Kosovo's elections, the one who has been criticised by Belgrade”, Mihajlovic points out.

EU's Role

European Union leaders have declared in recent days that they commit to a compromise to resolve the Kosovo issue. On the other hand, the question is: Is compromise possible at the time when Serbia's president says that “dialog no longer means”.

Professor Ivo Viskovic thinks continuing things according to the current model brings nothing. The international Union must act differently. Compromise is really difficult, but I think it should be achieved step by step. There will hardly be big steps”, the former diplomat claims. While Mihajlovic thinks the EU has done nothing to reach compromise, though he speaks of a compromise all the time.

Albania's “Pala does not want to meet anything, because no one is putting serious pressure on it. America could, but will never create a conflict situation between Albanians and American troops on the ground. While the EU is acting only as “somebody renting locals for discussion -- that is, for quarrels between Belgrade and Pristina -- and nothing more” -- claims Mihailovovic. /DU/