Petritsch: Kosovo experiencing most dangerous crisis since declaring independence

Austrian diplomat Wolfgang Petritsch has said that Kosovo is currently experiencing the most dangerous crisis since its 2008 declaration of independence, and that things can easily get out of control and destroy everything achieved in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina in the last ten years.

Petritsch in a conversation for Demostat, said what is needed now is a new Brussels effort to restore both sides to the negotiating table

Petritsch is a former European Union special envoy for Kosovo and a former high representative of the international community for Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also participated in the name of the EU as mediator in the negotiations in Rambouillet, held between Kosovo and Serbia delegations in March 1999. At that time intermediation was done by a U.S. three, The EU and Russia. The US was represented by current Ambassador to Belgrade Christopher Hill, the EU by Austrian diplomat Wolfgang Petritsch, and Russia by Boris Majorski.

Speaking of recent tragic events in the village of Banjska in northern Kosovo, he warned that confrontation will only turn the region back.

Normalisation is essential because it would create preconditions for economic progress. That's what people want, I'm sure. There are many talented young citizens who leave their homes to emigrate to more peaceful countries, such as Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. But Europe wants to see prosperity, not conflict in countries of the former Yugoslavia. The age of war is over. Now we have to rebuild the economy and ensure a better life for citizens”, Petritsch said.

He said fears that increasing tensions in Kosovo could turn into armed conflict.

There is such a danger, but Brussels and Washington are willing to prevent any escalation. We should not return to past war”, he stressed.

Asked who is guilty of worsening the security situation in Kosovo and Metohija, Petritsch said there are always two sides of the “in each tension.

I view this as an external observer and I have to say that the EU must act more decisively and not allow the security situation to deteriorate further. The international community, particularly the EU and the US, should force both sides to return dialogue”.

According to him, it is time to implement what the parties are destined for in Brussels and Ohrid.

The German-French proposal is still the best way to reduce tensions. I hope Paris and Berlin will return to their role to actively support the EU in its efforts to normalise relations between Belgrade and Pristina. There is no other plan that would be successful”, Petritsch said.

Asked whether international actors, such as Russia and Turkey, can use current tensions in Kosovo for their benefit, Wolfgang Petritsch estimates there is always the danger that foreign actors can use their tactics to achieve political points.

The “should be stopped because it is at the expense of Serbia and Kosovo. The Western Balkan region must become part of the European Union, that should have happened a long time ago. What we need is refocusing to the European policy of the enlargement process of the entire region. In the European Union alone, there will be more economic and social benefits for citizens”, Petritsch said. /Reporter