Will Pahor be the new Lajcak and why Serbia may not accept it?

From Maggie Ishurt

The list of Josep Borrell for the next rotation of the EU diplomatic body has not yet been specified as to who the new Kosovo dialogue mediator will be- Serbia after Miroslav Lajcak.

However, in circles and diplomatic tables, there is a loud discussion of a name that has, at the outset, confirmed his desire to succeed Lajcak as the EU's special envoy for dialogue: Borut Pahor, former Slovenian president.

Although it has remained several months since Lajcak's mandate was completed in August, the balance of results he has achieved has already been placed on scales and expectations for a new stream of dialogue -- the moment Kosovo is located at the lowest diplomatic level -- are huge.

Official Pristina has challenged Lajcak's role recently and has repeatedly criticised him for his bias with Serbia. In the course of recent events in the north, from tensions to plates, those for the mayors of the northern municipalities to the Banjska terrorist attack, Lajcak's positions have often been the site of Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who has declared that he cannot equate the European emissar with the European Union.

Unlike Slovakia and Lajcak, who does not recognise Kosovo's independence, Pahor Slovenia has strongly supported it and has often lobbied for strengthening Kosovo's position in international diplomatic relations.

A mediator motivated by political calculations?
For many analysts and good connoisseurs of diplomacy, the possible new face of Kosovo dialogue leadership- Serbia is motivated by political calculations. Closely recognising regional conflict as a political and diplomatic figure that has been raised and built in the reality of the Balkan space of the former Yugoslavia, they consider Pahor to be better than the overwhelming majority of candidates that can come into line.

For many of them, however, Serbia will not be strongly open to this candidacy. Not because Pahor has any anti-Serb stories, but because Serbia does not consider Slovenia a friend, not even a non-Serb country.

Serbia's claim, they say, will be that “Slovenia has recognised the state of Kosovo and sided with its”, which will make it an unlegging mediator from the Serbian state.

Weight could also be played by the fact that Pahor could not have forgotten that the beginning of the breakup of the former Yugoslavia had started precisely with the attack Serbian military forces undertaken against his state, Slovenia.

Nion-paper for ethnic borders in the Balkans and Pahor's attitudes for dialogue
Despite taking care to be cool in his judgments on the Kosovo-Serbia conflict, Pahor has not found himself out of the crowd.

Three years ago, there was widespread controversy over a non-paper] reportedly emerging from his office and supporting the idea of a division of borders in the Balkans on ethnic grounds. But even though he flatly removed the voices and confidently reiterated his position that if any change of borders in the Balkans is made, war would be the only consequence, this panpernon-paperú did not go through without criticism.

I am against ideas that appear in such documents, and I am much closer to thinking that EU enlargement and these borders exist. Even if someone naturally thinks and starts to talk about the borders in this region, I know it will not end peacefully, as we have experience from this region regarding changing borders. I totally reject the idea of this énon-paperia<18x1>, he said in that world while he has repeatedly hinted at the idea that Serbia and Kosovo should engage constructively in dialogue.

The fact is, leaders of both countries must find the solution. As a friend of both Kosovo Albanians and Serbs, I want a political will to be found for the continuation of these difficult negotiations, and in the end I hope that they will find the decision which will be a good compromise for both sides and is understood also for the European Union”, he said, while adding that Kosovo has some conditions to meet.

The main point for which he has insisted is the formation of the Association of Serb majority municipalities, followed by respect for the agreement on normalising relations with Belgrade and ratification of the demarcation with Montenegro.

In the international arena, he is considered one of the best career politicians, and his support these days has been confirmed.

The leading Slovenian newspaper “Delo.si” wrote a few days ago that Slovenia's prime minister, Robert Golob, is well-right and strong reason to support former Slovenia President Borut Pahor unconditionally to assume the post of special EU envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

“Over the past month Golob has held numerous bilateral talks even with European countries' leaders, as well as with the European Union's top representatives, on the issue.

The prime minister says convinced that President Pahor has testified with his current political work and experience, that he is a great friend of Western Balkan countries and his efforts, as well as Slovenia's efforts, are aimed at the integration of Western Balkan countries into the European Union, ensuring peace and stability in the Western Balkans and, in this way, throughout Europe, it is said, among other things, in the official position of the Slovenian government.

Pahor has also stressed that many diplomats believe he would be eligible for this role.

Some time ago, those who believed I would be fit for this role warned me that Lajcak could leave earlier and encouraged me to think about running. After my political career ended, I was often asked if I would apply for international office. The answer was no, but if there wasn't an opportunity to work in the Western Balkans, I would choose two roles -- the international community's High Representative, currently Christian Schmidt, and the EU's Special Representative for Dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade” -- declared Pahor to the media days ago, from the moment his name began being inscribed.