Sorensen preparing grounds for continuing Kosovo-Serbia dialogue so far without contact with Americans

On February 1st, the diplomat from Denmark, Peter Sorensen, took office as the new emissary of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue under the leadership of High Representative Kaya Kallas. Its main task will be to implement the Ohrid Agreement. Sorensen was put in motion with several information and preparation meetings, but to start the good work, he will have to wait until new institutions are formed in Kosovo, and in Serbia as well as until the epilogue of several months' protests is known. What has Sorensen done so far?

Sorensen, described as a good connoisseur of the Western Balkans by the European Council, has held several meetings with officials of both Kosovo and Serbia.

Prior to February, he held a meeting with his predecessor, Miroslav Lajcak, to get the staff and information needed for passing the post.

Before leaving office, Lajcak had made a warning that the European bloc was preparing a plan for both sides, which would be nominated by Kallas and Sorensen, but after elections in Kosovo.

The “is preparing an EU stance, a proposal for both sides. Of course, I can't talk about it any more in detail now”, Lajcak said.

So far Sorensen by top officials has met with Kosovo leaders, President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti, as well as senior diplomat Donika Grovalla, while from Serbia he met with Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric and Serbian Minister for European Integration Tanja Mischevic.

They were met in the margin of Munich Conference. There he even heard Kurt's three demands he had declared to former diplomat Josep Borrell, whom he had called conditions. Kurti has asked for the withdrawal of a letter Serbia had sent to the EU, the surrender of Radojicic and the signing of agreements.

I welcomed the possibility of the Security Conference in Munich for my first meetings with my partners from Kosovo, President Vjosa Osmani, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Foreign Minister Donika Grovalla, as well as Serbia's Foreign Minister Marko Djuric and Minister for European Integration Tanja Mischev. We all agreed on the importance of open discussions and the need for progress”, Sorensen wrote.

While these meetings were the most important for Sorensen, he has yet to announce any of the American officials who in the past years have been supporters of EU facilitated dialogue because of the key role the US has in Kosovo and Serbia.

Despite developments taking place between partners B E-US and their rifts in the Ukrainian issue are still unclear whether Sorensen will have the same co-operation Lajcak had with his American colleagues during the Biden Administration.

It is important to establish contacts at EU and US levels as soon as possible and reach an agreement on a common approach to the Western Balkans, where the EU must lead, for objective reasons, but be able to rely on support and understanding. America's” was one of Slovak's last orders.

However, Sorensen has announced each meeting and conversation he has held in the EU Special Representative's X account.

From the beginning, support came from NATO with the Alliance's spokeswoman, who said they are eager to work closely with it.

“Continued NATO-EU co-operation is key to maintaining stability throughout the Western Balkans region”, NATO said.

The first meeting on 1 February, Sorensen held with the chief of the EU Office in Kosovo, Aivo Orav, who after the meeting said he is convinced that the Danish's broad diplomatic experience will help advance the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

The top diplomat Kallas, who has shown personal interest in the dialogue, has warned that during March “will be seated with Sorensen to see how to make Kosovo-Serbia dialogue operational”.

In the subsequent wish for European emissary from Denmark, Kallas had said that they expect an important job and that full normalisation of relations is the only way for Kosovo and Serbia's EU membership, Sorensen held talks with two chief negotiators, Besnik Bislimi and Petar Petkoviq.

Both invited him to visit their countries.

I talked separately with Kosovo's two chief negotiators, Besnik Bislimi and Serbia's Petar Petkoviq today. I appreciated the very good conversation and welcomed their invitations to visit Kosovo and Serbia soon”, Sorensen wrote on February 6th.

After this conversation, Sorensen met EULEX head Giovanni Pietro Barbano, who has announced the new emissar for EULEX's work in Kosovo while agreeing to close co-operation.

After Barbanos, he met with EU Ambassador to Serbia Emmanuel Giaufret, in Brussels, who he said praised his views and knowledge.

“We will remain in close contact next”, Sorensen said.

A very good “Presentation” Sorensen also developed with NATO Deputy Secretary General for Operations Tom Goffus, with whom he said they agreed to close co-ordination of the EU- NATO supports dialogue.

After these meetings, Sorensen went to two European masterpieces, which drafted the so-called French-German plan that led to the achievement of the Ohrid Agreement.

In Paris and Berlin, Sorensen spent two days saying he had very good “and content” conversations on how to get the dialogue forward.

“grateful for the full support of my” efforts.

Meanwhile, yesterday Sorensen met with the ambassadors of Kosovo and Serbia to the European Union.

He divided met with Kosovo Ambassador to Brussels Agron Bajrami and later Serbia's ambassador to Brussels Danijel Apostolovic.

For both, the Danish said he is eager to co-operate “for advancing the full normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo”.

Sorensen has an initial mandate of 13 months.