Conflicts: Serbian President hints at acceptance of Kosovo plan

conflicts
Serbian President hints at acceptance of Kosovo plan

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic could change course on the Kosovo issue. photo

© Darko Vojinovic/AP/dpa

For decades, hardly anything moved in the cold war between Serbia and Kosovo. A new Franco-German plan enjoys Western support. Is Belgrade backing away from its destructive policies?

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has indicated that he may accept the latest Franco-German plan to normalize relations with Kosovo. Western negotiators had given him the choice of accepting the plan or facing the consequences of breaking off EU accession talks and withdrawing foreign investment, he said in a press conference broadcast live on TV.

“If the choice is that we get sanctions – and what would be a worse sanction than the withdrawal of investments – or that on the other hand we immediately accept everything that Kosovo’s membership of the UN means, then I’m for it the path of compromise, no matter how controversial it may be,” explained Vucic.

Kosovo, now inhabited almost exclusively by Albanians, used to be part of Serbia. After an armed uprising by the Kosovar Albanians and massive human rights violations by the Serbian security forces, NATO responded in spring 1999 with bombings in what was then the rest of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro).

From 1999 to 2008, the UN administration Unmik managed the area. In 2008 the country declared itself independent. To this day, Serbia has not recognized this step and is claiming the territory for itself. Western diplomatic efforts in the past few years have not resulted in any significant normalization of the situation. Recently, tensions had escalated again in the form of road blockades and shooting incidents.

Kosovo could become a UN member

The Franco-German plan became known in the autumn of the previous year and was never really officially published. But its key points have been known ever since it was submitted to the sides. Among other things, it stipulates that while Serbia and Kosovo do not formally recognize each other, they will mutually accept their state existence within the current borders. In particular, Serbia would stop blocking Kosovo’s membership of international organizations with the active support of Russia.

The admission of Kosovo to the UN has so far failed due to the veto of Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council. “There is no question that we support Kosovo’s accession to the UN, but we would de facto accept its membership,” Vucic continued.

“Nervousness in Europe” because of the Ukraine war

If that were to happen, it would actually be a turning point in Vucic’s Kosovo policy, which has so far been based on Serbian nationalism. “The geopolitical situation has changed,” he said. Because of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, there is “nervousness in Europe”. “Escapades in your own backyard” would no longer be tolerated. The Franco-German plan has long since become an EU plan, which is also supported by the five member states that have not yet recognized Kosovo. These are Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Cyprus.

Apparently, this is why things are fermenting in the SNS presidential party. At a meeting of the SNS board last weekend, several participants expressed their opposition to a possible change of course. Vucic, who is also the head of the SNS, then threatened to resign, after which all criticism fell silent, as Serbian media reported.

On Monday evening, Vucic emphasized that nothing had been decided yet. In the end, the Serbian parliament and “perhaps the people” should have the last word.

dpa

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