Kosovo - Serbia dialogue

President of Slovenia

29 Apr 2024 3 3

Josep Borrell

Inserted 1 year ago

“We have a deal. Kosovo and Serbia have agreed on the Implementation Annex of the Agreement on the path to normalisation of relations.”

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

18 Mar 2023 2 3

Xhelal Svecla

Inserted 1 year ago

“It is precisely Serbia, influenced by Russia, that has raised a state of military readiness and that is ordering the erection of new barricades, in order to justify and protect the criminal groups that terrorize.”

Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo

27 Dec 2022 2 3

Tim Judah

Inserted 1 year ago

“I am sure that the Russians are very happy and encouraging Serbia to take the stance that it is at the moment because clearly it is in its interests to try and make trouble in another part of the continent and distract Western attention from Ukraine. But this issue and the frequent flare-ups of tension long predate the Ukraine war so there is no reason to assume what we have seen recently would not be happening regardless. The only difference is that Ukraine has given an added impetus to the EU and US to try and resolve the Serbia-Kosovo issue, which is why we have seen so much diplomatic activity over the last few months.”

Special correspondent for The Economist magazine

15 Dec 2022 5 10

Engjellushe Morina

Inserted 1 year ago

“I don't see a full blown-out armed conflict between Kosovo and Serbia for a very simple reason, NATO.”

Senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations

15 Dec 2022 2 5

Josep Borrell

Inserted 1 year ago

“We have a deal. Under the EU-facilitated Dialogue, Serbia agreed to abolish entry/exit documents for Kosovo ID holders and Kosovo agreed to not introduce them for Serbian ID holders. Kosovo Serbs, as well as all other citizens, will be able to travel freely between Kosovo & Serbia using their ID cards. The EU just received guarantees from PM [Albin] Kurti to this end.”

27 Aug 2022 4 3

Maja Bjelos

Inserted 2 years ago

“Kosovo leadership should undertake the dialogue with Kosovo Serbs in order to counterbalance the leverage Belgrade has over them. They need to be shown that they are valuable and involved in the decision-making. Nobody worked on building the national consensus prior to reaching previous agreements. I advocate for more openness. We are witnessing a leadership crisis. We are shout out for this process, we don't own this process and feel that this Dialogue is imposed. In Serbia, the process has been captured by one person.”

Researcher for the Belgrade Center for Security Policy (BCSP)

29 Oct 2021 3 2

Aleksandar Vucic

Inserted 2 years ago

“Any kind of destabilization, problems even if they aren't big, create a huge problem for all of us in terms of attracting investors and the country's image. It's in our interest to try to advance our economy and work on rule of law.”

Serbia's President

30 Sep 2021 3 3

Agon Maliqi

Inserted 2 years ago

“There is no sincere wish for dialogue either in Kosovo or in Serbia and there isn't the necessary energy from the West to provide the impetus in moving forward the EU integration process. In the current situation, the ongoing EU-facilitated dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade to normalise relations is 'clinically dead'. For the dialogue to be revived, we maybe should be reminded why it is needed. The current status quo is quite unsustainable and the security crisis could escalate to the extent that the dialogue needs reanimation. Let us not forget too that both countries are in an election mood and the leaders have domestic political motives.”

Kosovo analyst

27 Sep 2021 3 3

Josep Borrell

Inserted 2 years ago

“We urge the leadership in Belgrade and Pristina to take a responsible approach and to work through the EU facilitated Dialogue to avoid any further escalation, restore a peaceful atmosphere and to work on viable solutions. It is in the interests of all to look for a way forward that enables freedom of movement and which improves people's daily lives. We stress once again that all agreements reached in the process of the EU-facilitated Dialogue since its inception in 2011 remain valid and binding for both Parties. Past agreements form an important element for comprehensive normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. The EU and its Member States urge Kosovo and Serbia to fully respect and implement all their Dialogue obligations with no further delay.”

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

22 Sep 2021 3 4

Miroslav Lajčák

Inserted 2 years ago

“Today, I had substantive separate discussions with First Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, and with the Director of the Serbian office for Kosovo, Petar Petkovic, about the preparations for the next Dialogue meeting on Chief negotiators-level in early September.”

Balkaneu

European Union's special envoy to Serbia-Kosovo talks

26 Aug 2021 3 3

Wilson Center

Inserted 2 years ago

“Re-energized US and EU support is necessary to realize the goal of independent, multi-ethnic states and societies co-existing peacefully in the Western Balkans. Property rights and cultural heritage for all citizens in Kosovo must be secured, particularly for Kosovo Serbs' property outside of North Mitrovica and surrounding areas, and for Kosovo Albanians' property in the northern four [Serb-majority] municipalities [of Kosovo]. By not acting more strategically to help Serbia and Kosovo resolve their dispute, the EU has contributed to the current situation, in which the entire region is in a state of tension, enabling interference by Russia, China, and others. If meaningful measures are not taken to further consolidate Kosovo's sovereignty, and to support its multi-ethnic and inclusive society, Kosovo will-paradoxically-come to symbolize Western failure.”

Report 'CONSOLIDATING KOSOVO’S SOVEREIGNTY: Why it Matters, and What Must Be Done' by Wilson Center

04 Aug 2021 11 7

Miroslav Lajčák

Inserted 2 years ago

“The European future for Serbia and Kosovo depends on the normalization of their relations. The meeting was difficult and it demonstrated very different approaches of the two parties to the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. As a consequence, we achieved very little progress today.”

Balkaneu

European Union's special envoy to Serbia-Kosovo talks

19 Jul 2021 3 3

Miroslav Lajčák

Inserted 2 years ago

“The meeting was difficult and it demonstrated very different approaches of the two parties to the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. As far as the EU is concerned, it's important to stress that the European future for both Serbia and Kosovo depends on the normalization of their relations and that they are expected to work together to overcome the past and solve the current issues among themselves.”

Rferl

European Union's special envoy to Serbia-Kosovo talks

19 Jul 2021 4 3

Albin Kurti

Inserted 2 years ago

“It was rejected before it was read; this proves their unwillingness to reach an agreement. When our commitment to the missing was expressed to include the word 'dealing with the past', this was accepted by Borell but rejected by Vucic.”

Kosovo Prime Minister

19 Jul 2021 3 3

Aleksandar Vucic

Inserted 2 years ago

“There were three points, to intensify joint efforts to identify the remains of the missing persons, to refrain from things that could potentially destabilize the situation on the ground and for the main negotiators to meet regularly, once a month, and prepare meetings when necessary. They [Kosovo] conditioned all the time with some new political criteria. We understand that there were crimes on both sides, they do not understand that, they see themselves as victims and Serbs as criminals. That story about genocides is someone's intention for Serbs to be the worst people in the world.”

Serbia's President

19 Jul 2021 3 2

Dragisa Mijacic

Inserted 2 years ago

“For years, President Vučić has managed to send the message that it is necessary to work on reaching an agreement, but also to calm those radical elements in society who are against reaching any agreement with the Kosovo Albanians. His political and social engineering is often reflected in the fact that members of his party and coalition partners often speak contrary to what he advocates in public presentations, which further confuses the public and calms the opponents of the agreement. In the coming period, we will probably witness the continued use of this model of communication. They (the attitudes) are often contrary to what the President is saying. However, the latest public opinion polls show that more and more citizens believe that a solution needs to be found to normalize relations between Serbia and Kosovo.”

Chair of the Working group for Chapter 35 of the National Convention on the EU

26 Jun 2021 4 4

Aleksandar Vucic

Inserted 2 years ago

“It is our job… to look for a compromise solution every day, because without it someone will unfreeze that conflict one day, and then, whatever we do and no matter how it all ends, I would have to tell someone's mother – I'm sorry you don't have a son anymore, but, at least we've achieved a great victory. I want to repeat – a compromise solution is the only possible solution, but if you ask me what a compromise is, I will tell you – I don't know. However, we all have to reach a compromise together. If we fail to do that, we will leave this problem to future generations.”

Serbian president

25 Jun 2021 1 4

Miroslav Lajčák

Inserted 2 years ago

“Both leaders were very open and honest about what they want in the dialogue, that is important for the EU, there is no other way forward than the normalisation of relations and both are committed to working on normalisation through dialogue.”

European Union's special envoy to Serbia-Kosovo talks

15 Jun 2021 4 4

Albin Kurti

Inserted 2 years ago

“From my point of view, this first meeting was constructive. It will be hard, but I am an optimist. We now have an honest approach to the problems. The essence of our conflict is the lack of mutual recognition. US President Biden said loud and clear that we need that.”