a minute agoBen Meir: Vuciq doesn't promise from Putin to sign an agreement in Ohrid
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)American expert for the Western Balkans Alon Ben Meir expresses sceptical about signing any agreement between Kosovo and Serbia at the March 18th meeting, to be held in Ohrid. Ben Meir says 50/50 are the chances of having agreements, and for that, according to him, the main blame is the enormous pressure that [are].
Ben Meir says 50/50 are the chances of having agreements and, according to him, the main blame is the enormous pressure being put on Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq, by Vladimir Putin.
Ben Meir adds that Putin opposes the Kosovo-Serbia agreement for normalisation of relations, because his aim is to destabilise the situation in the Balkans.
“Shansets for Vuciq and Kurti to sign the agreement on March 18th under me could be 50/50. The reason is that Vuciq is under tremendous pressure from Putin not to sign any agreements with the West, especially with the EU, regarding Kosovo, as Putin would like to destabilise the situation in the Balkans, instead of allowing such an agreement to create a process of normality between Kosovo and Serbia”, he says.
In addition to Putin's pressure, Ben Meir adds that the Serbian president is under great pressure both from the EU and the US to sign this agreement, and according to him, there is an opportunity for Vuciq to drop Russian president's pressure.
This can be done by explaining to Russia that the deal does not envision mutual recognition of Kosovo-Serbia.
“On the other hand, Vuciq is under tremendous pressure from the EU as well, that he will sign the agreement in 18 specifically because he has said he will. I am inclined towards signing it because it can benefit from improved relations with the West, especially the EU and the US, and it can still explain that the agreement does not constitute recognition of Kosovo by Serbia”, Ben Meir said.
This certainly can or cannot please Putin, but I think at this moment, Vucic does not want to seriously damage his credibility with the West. This especially because in final analysis, at a moment in the future he would like much to join the EU, where he sees Serbia's future as safer and more prosperous”, Alon Ben Meir told Blic newspaper.
