5 minutes agoPetritsch: Sorensen a serious diplomat, but needs full support from Brussels, Berlin and Paris
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)The new EU special envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Peter Sorensen, is an experienced diplomat and a serious mediator, but to succeed in that position he needs strong support from Brussels, as well as from Berlin and Paris and the capitals of other EU member states, says [...]
When it comes to the recent elections in Kosovo, Petritsch ʹ takes into account statements by political actors makes a parallel with the situation in Austria and notes that no one wants to enter the coalition with the winner. He advises a multiparty government, with the involvement of the Serb community.
I know Sorensen personally, I think he's a very experienced diplomat. Of course, the knowledge of our language is not his strength, as was the case with Miroslav Lajcak. But I believe Sorensen is a serious mediator. However, it needs full political support from Brussels, but also from capitals such as Berlin and Paris”, Petritsch notes.
He believes Lajcak lacked that very same political support from the high representative, the predecessor of Kaya Kallas, Josep Borrell.
“I hope that Calas, who is now, understood, is totally focused on the war in Ukraine, will still find time to use its political weight for rapid progress on this issue. Only then will Sorensen have a chance to advance. He is an experienced diplomat, but needs the EU's political weight. If not, it will not be possible to negotiate with Kurti or make progress with Belgrade”, Petritsch told Kosovo-Online.
He said that due to the difficult geopolitical situation, particularly the war in Ukraine and the Middle East, it should seek support from the EU for a solution, hoping the US will stay behind. But, on the other hand, parties in the dialogue should also be required to move towards normalisation, as agreed on 10 years ago.
Asked whether the EU still has power in the Western Balkans and particularly in dialogue, as it is exposed to criticism from the US and Donald Trump, Petritsch says that because of the distance, unilaterally initiated by Washington and criticism of Europe, the European Union is weakening.
The European Union is not a state. With 500 million people we are a major market and significant economic factor, but there are divisions among members and this weakens the EU. This does not make work in the Western Balkans easier,” describes Petritsch.
According to him, perhaps in Belgrade in particular there should be a desire for constructive commitment to finding solutions for Serbs in Kosovo, because it is Serbia's natural interest for Serbs in Kosovo to finally have a better life.
