Lajcak to start Kosovo-Serbia dialogue consultations this week

Gazeta Express

06/04/2020 17:54

The European Union has renewed its efforts to resume Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, after a long pause. With Miroslav Lajcak’s appointment as special representative, the EU wants the dialogue starts immediately. Kosovo is requested to return at the negotiation table with a caretaker government and amidst coronavirus crisis. Lajcak is planning to start consultations on dialogue this week, whereas the caretaker PM Albin Kurti and President Hashim Thaci’s have not commented on who should be leading the EU-facilitated dialogue.  

EU’s newly appointed special representative on dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, in his first week of work will start consultations on reviving the dialogue which was stalled in November 2018 after Kosovo introduced 100 percent tariffs on Serbian goods. This was stated on Monday by Peter Stano, lead spokesperson of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. “He [Lajcak] will start consultations during this week focusing on Pristina-Belgrade dialogue,” Stano said during a press conference in Brussels without elaborating further.

Heads of the EU in a joint press release issued on Monday urged resumption of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue without further delays, now that Lajcak has officially assumed his duties. Gazeta Express has asked the Office of the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, on the resumption of the dialogue after Monday’s press statement, considering circumstances created with the spread of COVID-19, and toppling of Government in a no-confidence vote on 25 March. “The message from the EU as expressed today in the statement by the Heads of Missions of the EU and member states in Pristina is in line with the previous calls by the EU from different levels including by the High Representative Josep Borrell on various occasions – to re-start the Dialogu without any delay because the status quo is untenable,” Stano said.

The Prime Minister’s Office and President of Kosovo has not commented the EU’s call to resume the dialogue with Serbia. Also, the Office of the US special envoy on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Richard Grenell, has not commented on today’s EU statement, after Lajcak’s appointment. “We have no comment on this issue, at this time,” said Dick Custin, spokesperson to Grenell’s Office.

Former Slovakian foreign minister, Miroslav Lajcak, has been appointed as Eu’s special representative on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, at the proposal of the EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell. Kosovo leaders, including president Hashim Thaci are sceptical on Lajcak’s role considering that he comes from a country which has not recognised Kosovo’s independence. President Thaci said that he would refuse meeting Lajcak mandated by the EU if he comes with a status-neutral attitude. Thaci expressed his readiness to engage in a US-brokered dialogue and has continuously criticised the EU. Kosovo’s caretaker prime minister Albin Kurti aid that he will be part of the dialogue with Serbia under the EU facilitation, but his authority has been shaken after the Parliament toppled his Government on 25 March in a no-confidence vote. /GazetaExpress/