Lajcak’s strategy on Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue, the EU says it will not reveal all its actions

Gazeta Express

26/05/2020 11:46

The European Union does not yet have a specific date for the resumption of the dialogue on the normalization of relations between Pristina and Belgrade. The EU spokesman Peter Stano said the dialogue should resume as soon as the conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic allow, while stressing that the issue of returning to the negotiating table also depends on Kosovo and Serbia. As for the EU special representative for the dialogue Miroslav Lajcak’s plans for co-operation with Richard Grenell, Stano said he would not provide a running commentary about talks or plans with partners.

Since taking over the post of EU special representative for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak has been in constant contact with all political and institutional representatives of the Republic of Kosovo.

EU spokesman Peter Stano told Gazeta Express that Lajcak was preparing the ground for resuming the negotiation process without delay. “The new EU Special Representative is in constant contact with all relevant partners to hear their views, expectations and concerns in order to prepare the ground, so that the dialogue can continue without delay,” he said. Stano.

He says the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue is a priority for the EU and should resume as soon as the situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic allows. “Relaunching the Dialogue is a priority and should be achieved as soon as possible. The status quo in the Dialogue is not tenable and the Dialogue should resume as soon as possible, once the situation caused by the coronavirus pandemics allows it,” he said.

However, Stano stressed that the timing, agenda and pace of the Dialogue is not only up to the EU “but shaped together with the two sides (Kosovo and Serbia) and their ability to agree.”

Meanwhile, regarding the cooperation and when Lajcak is expected to be contacted by Richard Grenell as US special representative (for the dialogue), Stano said that they will not provide information about each step or conversation that Lajcak makes, or about plans with partners.

“As we have stressed after the appointment of the EUSR M. Lajčák, the nature of his job is to reach out to all relevant partners and engage in consultations and discussions in order to assess the current state of play in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue. We are not providing a running commentary, nor timetables, on every single step he takes and every conversation he has or plans with the partners,” said Stano. /GazetaExpress/