Kosovo leaders have called for a coordination between the European Union and the United States in the future Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, which they want to be “reset” under a new approach.
Acting President Vjosa Osmani and Incoming Prime Minister Albin Kurti laid out their views to the EU envoy for the dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, during meetings in Pristina on Monday and Tuesday.
Osmani said the dialogue should be “reset” in order to enable Kosovo to protect its interests and result in mutual recognition. Asked by journalists on what Kosovo is ready to concede to get a deal with Serbia, Osmani stressed that her country has already conceded enough.
“Kosovo has made so many concessions that they have brought it to the brink of dysfunction. So, now is not the time to ask what Kosovo will give yet, but what is expected from this [dialogue] process is that both Kosovo and Serbia receive the final benefit from the European Union, which is membership in the European Union, and not for Kosovo to give something extra, be it pieces of internal functioning, or dangerous ideas such as changing borders,” Osmani stated.
In his meeting with Lajcak on Monday, Albin Kurti laid out three features the dialogue should include. He said he considers it an important process that won’t be neglected by his government, but that a new approach is needed.
“[The dialogue] must be transformative, based on principles and values, unlike the transactional one based on current interests. Second, [it should] have a trans-Atlantic character in terms of coordination between the European Union and the United States of America, but also of Western integrations for both sides. Third, [it should] be democratic and transparent, serving peoples and citizens, and not current governments or particular politicians,” Kurti told Lajcak.
The EU envoy started a 3-day visit in Pristina on Monday, following the February 24 elections that resulted in a win for Kurti’s Vetevendosje party. It’s not clear how long the formation of the new government will take.
