Historian from Serbia: Serbia, Kosovo to accept Franco-German plan

Radio Kosova: Serbs in Kosovo have constitutional rights that are considered normal for a democratic state. Establishing an association of Serb majority municipalities will further deepen ethnic division?

Milivoj Beslin: There is no doubt that politics in Serbia is intended through the Association of Serb majority municipalities to make division of Kosovo. The goal of this association, according to how the government in Belgrade sees its strategists, is not the preservation of Serbs in Kosovo, but is the continuing cementing of the division of Kosovo. The government's goal -- Vuciqi's goal -- is to partition Kosovo. Vuciq had once also found support in Kosovo for the idea of partition. But now since the current Kosovo government, does not support this idea, and can no longer continue with the discours of partitioning Kosovo, it should be said that both the US and Germany have said there will be no division of Kosovo. After all, Belgrade now aims to continue to deepen the idea of Kosovo's territorial division through the establishment of association, so that at an appropriate time, when even global or regional policy circumstances can change, the idea of Kosovo's territorial division can be realised.

Radio Kosova: A decade ago agreement, which was not ratified by both sides, and was hardly postponed by the European Union, do you think that at last it should be a turning point in the slow negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia as the United States joined the chorus for Association?

Milivoj Beslin: As I tell you, Alexander Vuciq is leading the talks, but actually because of the character of his governance, which is authoritarian, and has control over the media, people here have no idea what happens in those talks, they are not even informed. Now, even Vuciqi himself was not open during his speech to parliament, even showing nothing about the Franco-German plan and resolving the problem between Kosovo and Serbia. So people are very little informed about this subject. And now when we talk about the commitment of the United States, the U.S. is now playing with Alexander Vuchy as if he were a factor in the region. If you look at American diplomats, ranging from Escobar to the US ambassador to Belgrade, Chrysopfer Hill, how they approach Vuciki and how they talk to Prime Minister Albin Kurti saying that if they do not form association now, they will find other partners to form it, shows that the US, although formally recognised Kosovo's independence, they do not respect its sovereignty enough. On the other hand, it looks like the Serbian president is pleased, at least this is what he looks like in public, because I'm not a factor in knowing the background, with incomplete support, I would even call it empty US. Therefore, I think this support of American diplomacy to the Serbian president, insisting on the formation of association, I think it's part of what Vuciq then recognises Kosovo's independence and I think this is some kind of trade. Vuciqi himself, for domestic opinion, has warned that he will accept the Franco-German plan, which is already a unified plan of EU and US countries. Americans are pragmatic, they think to some extent both sides should compromise. Even for Vucinqiqi, it is difficult to accept Kosovo's independence, because of even the internal opinion it has created, so the establishment of association is seen as an acceptable compromise. But of course Serbia has been promised other privileges, as is the acceleration of EU integration.

Radio Kosova: The international community is criticising it and trying to curb Milorad Dodik and Republika Srpska in Bosnia to secede, while pushing Kosovo to form this association. What can this political corruption produce?

Milivoj Beslin: In the end, I think that some kind of association will be formed, that's predicted by the Franco-German plan. Prime Minister Albin Kurti has confirmed that the Kosovo side will accept this plan. The key is to oversee the Association. So it's not very important, whether it's the Association of Serb or majority Serb municipalities, because there will be a form for it to be accepted, but the essential point is that who will oversee this association. Will association be a community of citizens or will have defined competencies that are state privileges, which are allowed to a certain community in northern Kosovo, with the same reputation as Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Western States will continue to insist on establishing association, but I believe it will not make the kind of mistake it made with Republika Srpska, which is today only the destabilising factor of the region. If you establish an association that will have state privileges, you have created a cold conflict. The Dayton Accords are like that. Although it has been thought of as some kind of European democratic plan, in our context, the Balkans, and with Milorad Dodik's separatist policies, the Dayton Agreement, is no longer the European democratic plan, but it is a frozen conflict. So, if you establish association with state privileges, then you haven't solved the problem of the north, you've created a frozen conflict that can erupt at any moment.

Radio Kosova: Serbia even received candidate status even though it did not have to resolve the border issue. Another step with Serbian association would pose a threat to integration and peace?

Milivoj Beslin: As I told you before, all will depend on what the powers and privileges of this association will be. So if the Bosnian model is to be taken, then this is frozen war. The reactions of other communities in the region are now being seen. I have now noted that several other minorities in Serbia have begun to seek such association within Serbia. So this is a signal that such forms of association can be factors of instability in the region. But if viewed and done wisely, and if the association is only aimed at protecting the rights of Serbs in Kosovo, rather than establishing a parallel state on the territory of Kosovo, then this could be a progressive solution. It all depends on the responsibilities this association will have.

Radio Kosova: Witnesses say international pressure on Kosovo, but also on Serbia, to accept the Franco-German plan has increased recently. There have even recently been statements and audiences by intellectuals in Serbia that Serbia itself must accept this plan. Do you expect changing Serbia's position on this issue and what will be the outcome of the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue?

Milivoj Beslin: Alexander Wuchitch never said he wouldn't accept the Franco-German plan. For all I've read, he hasn't said a clear no, he hasn't even said a clear yes. I think under these circumstances nobody has the luxury that says no. I think Vucciki, hopes Kurti will say no to this proposal. I don't think he's gonna refuse, but he might ask for something extra. He is also preparing public opinion in Serbia that if he refuses the Franco-German plan it will be catastrophic for Serbia. I think the West this time has the determination to go to the end of this job so that both Serbia and Kosovo can accept this plan.