6 hours agoSerwer: Exchange of territories at risk for Kosovo EU removes measures as soon as possible
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)American international relations professor at Johns Hopkins University, Daniel Serwer, has sharply criticised former US President Donald Trump's claims that he had stopped the outbreak of a war between Kosovo and Serbia. In a script published Sunday on the “Truth Social”, Trump claimed he had prevented an armed conflict between the two countries during [...]
In a script published Sunday on the “Truth Social” platform, Trump claimed he had prevented an armed conflict between the two countries during his mandate.
But, Serwer describes this statement as untrue and warns that including Trump in Balkan issues could have even more serious consequences.
Any effort he makes now can cause even more damage, due to his tendency to divide Kosovo”, writes Cerwer.
According to him, the Balkans have been disturbed precisely because Trump has mentioned the region and, according to scenarios under consideration in the circle of the former American president, an agreement on exchange of territory between Kosovo and Serbia could be offered.
His “his Balkan whisperer, Ric Grenelli, thinks this is a great idea. He will offer it in exchange for territory. Kosovo's majority Serb north would pass Serbia, and the majority Albanian municipalities in southern Serbia would pass Kosovo. Sounds good, especially if you're an ethnic nationalist. Trump and Grenelli are ethnic nationalists devoted to the kind of white primacy”, writes Serwer.
But, according to him, this plan is not acceptable even to Serbia.
“They prefer to keep all south of Serbia, where a key route to Thessaloniki and the Mediterranean passes. Therefore, Belgrade is doing its best to get Albanians out of there”, Serwer points out, the telegraph is sent.
He warns that Kosovo should not enter into any discussion on exchange of territories.
“Prime Minister Kurti, or his successor, would do well not to allow any discussion of exchange in the agenda,” advises Cerer.
The American professor says that currently a president of the US with full capacity would find it difficult to deal with the Balkans, while a president as Trump, according to him, is unable to offer solutions.
A confused president like Trump can't do anything but take credit for things he's done and promise more. But he's failing everywhere: Gaza, Iran, Ukraine and trade are all in chaos”, he writes.
In this context, Serwer urges the Balkan parties not to seek help from figures like Trump or Green.
Serbia and Kosovo do not need help from people like Ric Green or Donald Trump”, he points out.
Cerwer also says sceptical about the already developed political dialogue under EU mediation, naming it unsuccessful.
THE entire political dialogue since 2013 has produced little or no results. The technical dialogue preceding this effort has produced much more: a telephone code for Kosovo, mutual recognition of the documents, the arrangement of payments for electricity, and integrated control of borders -- these have been real achievements for citizens,” writes Serwer.
According to him, Belgrade must find a way to resume the EU membership process, including implementation of the agreement reached in 2023, which Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq has refused to sign.
In the end, Serwer requires that the EU also accelerate the removal of sanctions against Kosovo.
Kosovo is still suffering under EU unjustified sanctions for actions that no one remembers. Brussels has begun the process of removing them and must complete as soon as”, it concludes. /Periscope/
