EU Special Representative for the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak has stated that the dialogue will be led by the EU, but they should closely collaborate with the United States.
In an interview with Klan Kosova TV yesterday, Lajcak said:
“There is only one dialogue which is led by the European Union, endorsed by the UN General Assembly, a dialogue that has very specific objectives, namely to promote cooperation, to improve lives of people and to achieve progress on the European path, and that the conclusion should be a comprehensive and legally binding agreement.”
Lajcak added that the EU “should be in the driver’s seat because we are speaking about the European perspective”, that he was “absolutely committed to working very closely with the US”, and that he will speak with US Special Envoy Ricard Grenell soon.
Asked about Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s claim during the vote of no-confidence that ousted him, that he was convinced an agreement between Presidents Hashim Thaci and Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia involving exchange of territories was ready and awaiting to be signed, Lajcak stated he hasn’t seen such agreement. He stressed that his priorities lay in the dialogue.
“I don’t want to speculate, I never do that. I haven’t seen any such agreement not has anyone told that there is such agreement. I have learned to work with facts. We have a clear agenda in front of us, we have the dialogue, we know what our goal is, so I will leave speculations to others,” Lajcak said.
On whether the final agreement would include land swap, Lajcak said it should comply with EU principles and supported by the union. Several EU member states are against change of borders.
Asked on whether he still stood by a statement he made in 2009 that he would not support any initiative that would put recognizing Kosovo as a condition for Serbia to join the EU, Lajcak replied that is was said before the 2010 ruling of the International Court of Justice that said declaration of independence by Kosovo was not a violation of the international law.
Pressed repeatedly by the journalist on whether he has changed his stance towards Kosovo’s independence after the ICJ ruling, Lajcak avoided a direct answer: “I am a diplomat and I obviously respect international institutions, and the ruling of the ICJ is something that we all have to respect.” He added that the most important thing was that he came with an open mind, no hidden agenda and proof of professionalism.
Lajčak was Slovakia’s foreign minister (2012-2020), one of the five European countries that does not recognize Kosovo. During the interview he said this has nothing to do with his new job as he now represents the EU, not his country.
His candidacy for the post was criticized by Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaçi and some experts. Thaçi accused Lajčák of having stopped Slovakia to recognize Kosovo and of having voting against the country’s seat in UNESCO.
Kosovo’s president favors a deal mediated by the US administration instead of EU.
When asked whether Serbia would face repercussions from the EU for its derecognition campaign, Lajcak did not speak of concrete measures, stating instead that the EU expects both parties to refrain from any actions that may “worsen the atmosphere.”
Finally, Lajcak declined to confirm whether a final agreement between the two countries would be feasible by March 2021, when his term ends. Instead, he stressed that reaching a quality agreement that will help Kosovo and Serbia on their way to EU membership is feasible, and that is what is important.
