Is it possible to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia?

According to the report of the international group Tasnim news agency, “S In an article, Swiss RF discussed the escalation and continuation of conflicts between Serbia and Kosovo and wrote: The situation between Kosovo and Serbia is repeatedly escalating, and in this situation, these countries cannot avoid negotiations.

This publication went on to write: The European Union has been struggling for years with the question of how relations between Kosovo and Serbia should be normalized. Last year, the European Union was able to broker an agreement between these warring neighbors. But neither Serbia nor Kosovo implemented these agreements. On the contrary: the situation escalated again last September.

Miroslav Leycak, the EU’s special representative for talks between Pristina and Belgrade, openly says that he would like to see rapid progress. see Terry However, he is also aware of the degree of mutual mistrust between Kosovo and Serbia. Lack of support among relevant populations also makes negotiations more difficult, Laycock said.

The two countries reached an agreement early last year. For example, in the case of Kosovo, Serbia and the European Union called for the implementation of an association of Serb-majority municipalities. Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Korti accused the European Union of unilaterally favoring Serbia after his country faced measures.

described as failed. Corti said: Yes, he criticized the role of the European Union. But he still believes in dialogue format. At the same time, he said that he still wants a tougher approach towards Serbia. According to him, violations should be sanctioned and the agreement should be finally signed by both sides. refused to sign the agreement, no problem. This agreement is still valid. He does not accept the charge that the European Union has sided with Belgrade too much. Laycock said the EU has always chosen clear words. According to him, Kosovo’s criticism of the European Union and its role in this process is probably part of the tactical game.

However, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has repeatedly said that does not consider himself bound by this agreement. The EU has never taken a position on this, at least publicly. Laycock said in this regard: Such statements that are said for home audiences should not be exaggerated. What matters are the commitments made in this process.

Such words are not enough for the Kosovo side. Finally, the Serb invasion of Kosovo took place in September, says Prime Minister Kurti. Serbia denies involvement in the attack. However, there are indications that Serbia was involved in the game at the time.

Laycock doesn’t want to get into that. However, he stresses that the European Union will not tolerate further provocations of this kind. And he also says that the situation is still tense because of this attack.

This article continues: Kosovo sees Serbia as a threat. Albin Korti said that his country is ready to defend its sovereignty in an emergency. However, Corti wants to continue negotiations with Serbia in Brussels. He wants normal relations with the neighboring country. Miroslav Laycok also sees no alternative to negotiations. According to him, the European future is not possible without normalization.

However, none of them has a real answer for how the two countries will return to the negotiating table and how to implement the agreements. They have not given.

What worries the western countries is that the war of 1998-1999 in Kosovo should not be repeated. As a result of the war in those years, more than 10,000 people lost their lives and more than one million people became homeless.

Kosovo is a land of mostly Albanian descent. which was a part of Serbia before declaring independence. The Serbian government has so far refused to recognize Kosovo as a new country.

About 100 countries, including the United States and most Western countries, have recognized Kosovo’s independence. are recognized On the other side, Russia, China and five European Union countries are next to Serbia. This stalemate has caused the tensions in the Balkan region to remain after the bloody collapse of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

International officials still hope that Kosovo and Serbia can reach an agreement whereby Kosovo can at least get a seat at the United Nations – without Serbia having to explicitly recognize it as an independent state.

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