Perez: Kurti has softened the stance in relation to dialogue

In the interactive “”, Peres said on Friday he did not expect Kurti to be open to discuss the status of Kosovo Serbs.

Although he has voiced scepticism for the Ohrid Agreement, Perez has said the table seat is a good sign. According to him, including the issue of association in this agreement shows Kosovo's commitment. However, he has said that the formula for Association and the self-advancing of Serbs is unstable. He has said that the text speaks, not of the consolidated formation of Association, but of the possibility of model or ideas so that specific status of Serbs in Kosovo can be offered.

The fact that Miroslav Lajcak has come with some plans, or certain options, and the model is a good thing he has discussed with the Government of Kosovo. And this leads me to some interesting ideas that over the past two years since Albin Kurti has been leading the government, we have seen a softening of his positions in relation to dialogue. I don't think I have personally expected, for example, five or six years ago that a government led by Albin Kurti would be open to discuss the status of the Kosovo Serbs at this level. This is a sign that maybe someone would say diplomacy worked”, Perez said.

Perez has expressed scepticism in the Ohrid Agreement, because according to him, there is no clarification as to how things will happen. While describing this agreement as complicated, Peres has had reservations for implementing the agreement based on the not distant past of dialogue and the failure to implement agreements. That is precisely what the Association of Serb majority municipalities has mentioned.

Peres sceptical of Kosovo's “recognition dephacto” by Serbia

Alejandro Esteso Peres, connoisseur of Spain's reports with the Balkan countries, has expressed sceptical that the Ohrid Agreement implies Kosovo's de facto “recognition de facto”, as Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said.

Kosovo and Serbia agreed on February 27th in Brussels on the contents of the European proposal for normalisation of reports. On March 18, they agreed on the annex to implement this proposal. Kurti has named the agreement a de facto recognition by Serbia.

Perez said that “recognition de facto” was mentioned in the past. He has said that if Kosovo and Serbia are trying to present this agreement as their own victory.

For example, in Kosovo I have noted that Government and Kurti, in particular, has described this as a de facto recognition of Kosovo from Serbia, even though the agreement has not been signed. My reserve stands here and for that I am skeptical because to say Serbia has recognised de facto Kosovo has been told in the past... That has been said in many cases by Kosovo governments in the past. I remember the times when Kosovo's IDs were met, the same things were said... So this is a discurs intended only to get support here at home. It is a clear thing, therefore, that it is a kind of self-security for citizens that the Government of Kosovo has acted in the best interests of all and that this way also works when it is spoken to the interior public”, he has said.

He has said Kurti argues “of de facto” with the text containing respect for the integrity of the symbols. However, according to him, Serbia will not stop approaching Kosovo and that there is no certainty that the Ohrid Agreement contributes to neighbourly relations.

He has said Serbia is interested in dragging the dialogue process. According to him, in this respect Serbia has priority since it is internationally recognised, while Kosovo has much more to lose. He has voiced doubts that Serbia would stop attacking Kosovo's membership efforts in international organisations.

“I don't believe in Serbia's confidence at this point”, he has said.

He has said the European Union should have more bold and harsher approaches to Serbia. He has named Serbia as a wise man who is able to play in two chairs, in the middle of the EU using it for trade, but is also watching the recent reports with Russia.

According to Perez, Kosovo is on track to strengthen domestic institutions.