Who prevents lasting peace between Kosovo and Serbia?

The first of its kind since the end of the 1999 war was signed by the then prime ministers of the two countries, Hashim Thaci and Ivica Dacic.

This is a step further from the past for both and a step closer to Europe”, said then EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who mediated the talks between them.

From that time on, Serbia only opened several negotiation chapters for EU accession, while Kosovo only applied for membership in this bloc.

Many provisions of the agreement were not implemented, and tensions continued. In some cases they also culminated in protests and barricades in northern Kosovo, where the majority population is Serb and, influenced by Serbia, opposes Kosovo's authority.

Ten years after the first agreement, in 2023, the two countries agreed on another alike to normalising relations. Even then, it was named as the key “achievement by the European Union.

Referring to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, said they have agreed to implement all provisions of the agreement and relevant obligations.

Over a year later, nearly all these articles remain on paper. Tensions again culminated in violent protests in the north and even armed incidents.

For Kurt, it's Vucciqi, for Vuchy it's Kurt. For Kurt, Serbia is a danger to Kosovo. For Vucinqi, Kurti Government is a danger to Kosovo Serbs.

At a summit last week in honour of the 25th anniversary of Kosovo's liberation, Kurti said his government has no problem with the country's Serbs.

The problem is with Belgrade, which did not distance itself from Milosevic of the past or from the present Putin”, Kurti said, referring to the former Yugoslav president and current Russian president.

Just three days before the event, Kurti, the government of Serbia and Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted a joint statement that, among other things, Kosovo treats as Serbia's non-inhibitable “. Such formula, Serbia continues to have it in the Constitution, despite the fact that Kosovo is an independent state since 2008.

Radio Free Europe addressed both the Government of Kosovo and the Office for Kosovo in Serbia's Government to ask what or who the lasting peace between the two countries depends on, but neither of the institutions responded.

Aida Hehir, from Westminster University in London, says the problem lies with Serbia. Speaking of the Free Europe Radio Expo Programme, he says that this country, for years, has been guided by hardline nationalists, who have been part of Slobodan Milosevic's regime in the years of 1990s and does not want peace, according to him, the idea of creating great Serbia.

The “is impossible for Kosovo to make agreements with a country that does not accept its right to exist, which continues to interfere with its internal affairs and that sparks violent unrest within its territory. So it's Serbia, not Kosovo. Kosovo is an independent state. It does not threaten anyone, will not invade anyone, and will not take anyone's land”, says Hehir.

His government's decisions to install Albanian mayors in Serb majority municipalities in the north, or to prevent the use of the Serbian dinar in Kosovo, do not contribute to the solution of the problem, Bechev says.

And, I don't think there's timeline pressure for solutions. Because, as long as there are tensions, Vucin has good stories to tell his voters... that he's getting up for Serbs, that he's protecting Serbia's interests, etc. Likewise, Albin Kurti plays with his electors, which include many nationalist”, Bechev says of the Expose.

This status quo, according to him, can continue indefinitely, and a portion of the responsibility goes to the EU for, as it says, the abstract “offerts” for the integration of the two countries into its ranks.

He adds that the EU should use the “carot and stick” strategy with them offering one thing in exchange for one thing.

The EU has made it clear to both Kosovo and Serbia that their integration into the European family will depend on normalising relations with each other. It constantly conveys messages to the parties to implement the agreements reached.

But Bechev expects EU attention now, when it is under way to elect its new leaders, to be neither in Kosovo nor in Serbia. Moreover, he says dynamics can completely change if Donald Trump, who in the first term has been attributed to faster and more severed solutions, is elected in US presidential elections.

“If Trump wins the elections, politics can be moved to find a solution with [Kosovo's] partition. Even these developments would then prolong the problem”, Bechev says.

Separation or correction of the borders is cited as option in 2018, even by then Kosovo and Serbia's own leaders, Hashim Thaci and Aleksandar Vuciq, but the idea has been silent, following the objections it has faced in both countries.

Hehir, from West administrator University, says that if there is ever to be lasting peace in the Balkans, it must come from governments that acknowledge that the current borders cannot be changed.

Hehir says the West should deal with Kosovo and Serbia as equal states, and if you want a solution between them, the pressure to focus on Serbia, which, with Russia's support, has more leverage in hand to manipulate.

Serbia is surrounded by the European Union and NATO, so it is very sensitive to Western sanctions. The West may take a tougher stance on Serbia and seek it not necessarily to recognise Kosovo, but at least to prevent interference in its internal affairs and allow its membership in international organisations. So the West can do this”, says Hehir.

Citizens who, according to Bechev, “are always hostage to such a pending situation, or turn into football ball between the two governments” are optimisticly reserved for lasting peace with the country.

I, personally, believe [there can be peace] but it will take longer. I as a new generation, even though I haven't experienced the war, have grown up with a hate spirit toward Serbia, and I believe it takes time”, says Geniana Fyza, at the beginning of her 20s.

Its fellow citizen from Pristina, Orhan Avdiu, says that “with this regime in Serbia cannot be reached peace”.

The “is a political class from the Milosevic era. In power are his people and there can be no agreement between Kosovo and Serbia”, he tells Radio Free Europe.

The “should be timed. Serbia has very deconstructive access and will take a very long time”, Majlinda Ferati says.

In Belgrade, a citizen who only wanted to be identified by her name Yelena says she does not believe in lasting peace between Kosovo and Serbia.

The conflict has a long history. There are many people who are nationalists. Nationalism here is more powerful than anything, according to her.

This is a difficult question. Many people have been killed, and now family members find it difficult to reach out. You should look at the positive things, but politics poisons everything, on all sides”, says Ivo Beserovac.

Stefan Vukasinovic thinks “is dependent on the”, writes Radio Free Europe.

The newest “they are, the more present on the internet, see that it can reach peace”, he says.

When can Kosovo and Serbian leaders be seen again at the negotiating table at least to make efforts to achieve peace, it is unknown.

The odds are small during the summer months, until the descendants of current mediators are selected.

The US and Germany reiterate that the two countries must go towards mutual recognition.

In the words of the American ambassador to Pristina, Jeffrey Hovenier ão “nothing less fulfills the vision of a full, free, prosperous and at peace”.