FAZ reporter: Kurti imposed a condition on five diplomats on basic agreement with Serbia

He fears that with current methods, the democratic world may not succeed in the fight against fascist Russia.

The last Friday “, a senior American and European delegation, visited Pristina and Belgrade. It consisted of Emmanuel Macron foreign policy advisers Olaf Scholz, Italian prime minister plus special EU and US representatives for the” region, Martens wrote on Twitter.

US-backed “Germany, France and the EU in September 2022 proposed to Serbia and Kosovo to resolve their conflict along the 1972 German-German base treaty lines. Meaning: Accept the other side, without formal recognition. You agree to disagree. Move forward”, he added.

On the latest international visit, Martens said he spoke to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq more than two hours. And the whole discussion, according to him, was about a fundamental question: “A are Serbia and Kosovo ready to accept the Western proposal as the basis for solution?

“says Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti has set a condition: To accept the Western proposal for settlement, he needs guarantees that the five EU states that have not yet recognised Kosovo will do so. Kurti allegedly demanded that this be included in the proposal”, Martens writes, Express reports.

But FAZ journalist says this demand cannot be met.

“This is certainly a requirement neither the EU nor Germany nor France can meet, as they cannot speak (let alone guarantee) on behalf of Spain, Romania, Greece, Slovakia and Cyprus. All these countries have their own internal reasons not to recognise Kosovo”.

According to Martens, “seems that the West is trying to visualize Kurti as a stubborn egomaniac who does not understand the potential of the Western bid”.

But when you look at the last 10 years of EU policy for the Balkans, Kurt (and Serbian President Vuciq's) reluctance to trust Western promises is understandable”, he writes.

In essence, Martens says, the “Western envoys come to Pristina and Belgrade as an empty-handed salesman”.

“Like vendors trying to sell a product that doesn't have a warehouse. No wonder their potential customers are in doubt”, he writes.

The great promise of the West in the region since the 1990s was membership in the European Union, recalled FAZ journalist. But since 2013, no single new member has been accepted and Macedonia's case is being taken for the worse. Martens shows how Macedonia changed its name for the sake of membership and was again blocked by Bulgaria.

“Kurti and Vuciq certainly know that. So why risk political capital? For a ticket to Neverland? Kosovo is not even receiving significant Western assistance in its bid to join the Council of Europe. Why should I expect better treatment on its way to the EU?”, Martens asks.

Later, he writes how “European perspective” lost credibility.

“Vuciq opened Belgrade's meeting Friday with his usual dramatic performance. Some Westerners warn it cannot sit on two chairs much longer. Hmm. Really? Can't he? I'm not sure”, writes the reporter.

While the West identifies Kurt as the real problem (even though the fundamental problem is that the EU has nothing to offer), Martens says the “situation for Vuciqi is easier”.

“He can claim that Kurti is to blame for the lack of resolution, while essentially agrees with the Western proposal”, writes Martens.

The FAZ journalist criticises Kurti, who is finding excuses not to allow the formation of the Serb Majority Communities Association, but says this may not contribute to a sustainable solution, “, unless there is a comprehensive European concept for Kosovo and Serbia”.

“and no one, currently”, Martens points out.

This goal for Kosovo and Serbia should not imply full membership, but must mean something that makes a crucial difference for people in the region ʹ as membership in the common market, for example”, Martens concludes.