Petritsch: The idea for partitioning Kosovo has been Belgrade

Petritsch, one of the key international figures in the Balkan political processes after the wars, has said his involvement in this debate was to better understand what could be achieved through dialogue.

It was the first time two Balkan leaders talked about the borders peacefully. I didn't believe the separation would happen, but my hope was that through this discussion they would find another way to find a solution,” Petritsch said. He stressed that his attitude did not imply support for separation, but for creative and outside efforts to reach peaceful agreements.

Petritsch indicated that at the time he had suggested organising a meeting between Thaci and Vuciqi at the Alpbakh Forum in Austria, where they for the first time shared the same scene. He denied that maps had ever been laid on the table, but noted that Belgrade's expectations for territory had been unrealistic.

“Serbs thought they could get much more than they would give. This doesn't work,” he added to KTV.

According to him, eventually, the idea of partitioning also moved into American circles but did not produce concrete results.

“If Belgrade and Pristina reached an agreement on partition, it would imply de facto recognition of Kosovo from Serbia, because there cannot be an international treaty without mutual recognition,” told Petritsch.

Reflecting further, he stressed the importance of thinking differently in politics: “Even if there is no division, why not joint enterprises form across the border? That's what politics should do to seek solutions, not harden in attitudes. ”/Periscope/