22 minutes agoIschinger Kurt and Vuchy: Make the turning point now
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)Former German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger says an urgent turning point is now needed in the Balkans. He addresses Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Alexander Vuciq for tomorrow to seize the opportunity to take the historic step for their two countries and reach an agreement. Ischinger wrote about Politico before tomorrow's meeting between [...]
Ischinger wrote about Politico before tomorrow's meeting between Kurti and Vuciqi in Ohrid, where they are expected to talk about the European Proposal Implementation Plan.
The full potential for the growth and prosperity of the Western Balkans can only be realised if the relationship between Serbia and Kosovo is finally set on a sustainable and co-operative basis”, it has written.
Ischinger, involved in the initial negotiations a decade ago, says that even earlier a version of a basic agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, similar to the two Germanys' model, but says that at that time, it was not realised.
“Tact was based on the philosophy of the 1972 Base Treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic, which aimed to establish good neighbourly relations between the two states and allowed full pragmatic co-operation, bypassing several issues as full reciprocal recognition of the then seemingly irrevocable diplomatic ♫x1>, Ischinger wrote.
The former German diplomat writes away that this agreement was not reached in 2007, as at the time, Serbia found it impossible to sign that document.
But Ischinger says things have changed a lot.
According to him, as many as Kosovo and Serbia remain in conflict, they will not be able to see their potential for development and their role in regional co-operation and integration.
Ischinger addresses Kurt and Vuciqi with a request, as a friend of Kosovo and Serbia.
“As a friend of both Kosovo and Serbia, and as a former EU negotiator, it requires President Vuciq and Prime Minister Kurti to take a confidence step now. On March 18th, in Ohrid, both will have a historic opportunity to show courage and political leadership. And now is the time to advance Serbia and Kosovo together, in the interest of their people, in the interests of the Western Balkans and in the interest of peace and security on the European continent”, wrote Ischinger.
Ichinger advises Kosovo and Serbia to make “the point of their turning” now.
