Will the year be 2023 turning point for Serbia in relation to Kosovo?

Only external pressure, or perhaps just fate, led to a significant escalation of the situation in Kosovo. But will the year be 2023 turning points?

So wrote Deutsche Welle in a Serbian-language article in which he recapitated events that marked 2022 between Kosovo and Serbia.

The last “was announced as a turning and dramatic year, but in the end it turned out to be a relatively peaceful year. This, of course, does not mean that there have been no dramatic actions and warnings, rising in military readiness, and moments that can be described as serious incidents, especially in Kosovo, but at least for now, things seem to be under control”, DW wrote.

Since the year 2022 was also the electoral year [in Serbia], it was expected to cause additional tensions, as there were warnings that the next day of elections would come protests, but still the entire pre-election campaign, as well as post-election periods. He went through a lot of friction.

The start of the conflict in Ukraine coincided with the Serbian election campaign, and the seriousness of that tragedy was reflected also in bringing participants to political life in Serbia.

This significantly affected the dynamics and level of political tensions in Serbia, so neither the government nor the opposition took any additional steps that would significantly exacerbate the situation.

That fact further facilitated power in Serbia the continuation of authoritarian rule, because the opposition was positioned as a political factor that does not want much waves at a time when the head of state is suffering from major external pressures.

Part of the opposition, no doubt, has exerted pressure on authorities over sanctions against Russia, but these were vague warnings, which could not significantly affect the decisions of Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq.

On the other hand, Albin Kurti's decisions were met with the unanimous condemnation of Serbian power and opposition, and that was the topic that dominated the second half of the year. Only foreign pressure, or perhaps just fate, led to avoiding a more serious escalation of the situation in Kosovo.

As expected, the Kosovo issue was not resolved during 2022, and according to the good old custom, the next year is declared once again a turning point when it comes to the final solution of the Kosovo problem.

Hence, these expectations are not new, but unlike the past years, this time the West acts and seems determined to complete this work in 2023. How crucial is it actually going to be a year, or is it going to be another bomb proclamation?

Dusan Spasojevic, from the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, remembers the DW that “many times in the past years has seemed to be close to solving, so it didn't happen, but we can now be closer to it. We don't know if this is going to happen, but now we have some external structures that think it's now a favourable moment to pressure”.

But, on the other hand, Spasojevick continues, “we have two leaders, Vucinj and Kurti, who are very stubborn and have some calculations of them that do not enter external plans. This is where I see the biggest hurdle, if there are any. It's a very good offer that will satisfy both leaders. I think there are some restrictions on that pressure, Serbia cannot be expected to take sanctions, for example, why it does not want to accept an agreement with Kosovo that does not suit it. Therefore it is possible to solve that problem to extend”, Spasojevic told DW.