5 minutes agoCholles, Escobar, Hill and Havenier are very skilled diplomats, I don't think they're the ones for Association.
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)Edward P. Joseph, legalist at Johns Hopkins University in Washington and former deputy head of O'S mission The SBE in Kosovo, in an interview for the daily newspaper “Noova”, has said that American envoy Derek Chollet, American amassador in Serbia, Christopher Hill and the one in Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier are very skilled diplomats, but that not [...]
He has said he is convinced that by the end of this year an agreement can be reached between Belgrade and Pristina, which says it will lead to mutual recognition.
I am 100% convinced that it is possible to reach an agreement by the end of the year, which will lead to mutual recognition. It is possible to reach this agreement long before the end of 2023. It's only January. I think it is very likely that all open issues will be resolved and that it is possible to reach a satisfactory agreement that would guarantee the Kosovo Serb country as citizens of the independent and functional Republic of Kosovo. That is very possible, but there is a condition -- that is, an obstacle standing in the way of an agreement -- and that is the position of four NATO countries -- Romania, Slovakia, Greece and Spain. They are the only obstacle to reaching an agreement that would not only contribute to resolving this problem, but would completely change Serbia's strategic orientation. The policy of “two chairs” would end, Serbia would turn towards the West, and that includes NATO membership. I am convinced of this”.
As for the German-French agreement, Joseph says he doesn't think it will work and says this agreement can solve problems.
I met him through the media... That the idea is for Kosovo to allow the formation of association and in exchange Serbia not to recognise Kosovo, but to accept reality, something like the model of two Germany. First of all, I don't think it'll work, and secondly, I don't think this deal will solve problems. The union of Serb municipalities is Kosovo's obligation, could be a very important part of the final agreement and could be fully harmonised with the Kosovo constitution. But the ZSO issue is an issue related to Kosovo's final status”.
Joseph had good words for American diplomats Derek Chollet, Gabriel Escobar, Christopher Hill of Jeff Hovenier, who called them capable but says he does not share the opinion of the association.
He says that while Serbia can block Kosovo, it will do so, as there is interest in it.
There is no doubt that the Association is on the agenda and that American representatives believe this is the solution. I respect them for their abilities. We're talking about very skilled diplomats, Derek Cholett, Gabriel Escobar, Christopher Hill, Jeffrey Havener... These are very skilled people. They believe this is the solution, but I have another opinion. I don't think it will work because Serbia has no interest in operating things on the ground. As long as Serbia can block Kosovo, it will. At the same time, it will thus block Serbia itself, its democracy, but Serbs from Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Everything will be blocked while Serbia can block Kosovo”, he said.
