When Albin Kurti became Prime Minister of Kosovo, dialogue with Serbia was not among his top priorities, despite pressures from the EU and the US to resume the talks.
His main priorities, Kurti said at the time, were justice and employment, while the dialogue should be “sincere”, without any “time pressures” and have “content”.
But despite this stance, his meeting vis-à-vis with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic did not take a long time to materialize, only one month after he released the government’s agenda.
The meeting was mediated by EU Special Envoy for the Dialogue, Miroslav Lajçak, and deputy US Secretary of State, Matthew Palmer.
On June 15, Kurti met Vucic for the first time, under the presence of EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell as well as EU’s Lajcak.
The first meeting failed to bring any results as their stances were radically different.
Vucic insisted on discussing the Association of Serb Municipalities, seeing it as the main topic, while on the other hand, Kurti proposed some topics that diametrically opposed the requests of the Serbian side.
“I don’t know what to tell you, to be honest, I think that the extension of the dialogue says a lot about the outcome. It was agreed to continue with the dialogue by the end of July. I hope that this is an important thing in guaranteeing peace and stability”, said the Serbian President to the media.
“A final agreement will happen when the accord for mutual recognition is in terms of form and content in accordance with the Vienna Convention on the Law on Treaties,” said Kurti.
The top officials that brokered the meeting described the meeting as “not an easy one”, but commended both leaders for agreeing to meet again.
Kurti’s stance in Brussels was widely commented on domestically, with some being harsher on Kosovo’s Prime Minister.
The opposition and analysts were more critical; however, others saw his performance as “historical”.
Ahead of the second Kurti-Vucic meeting, the Kosovan and Serbian sides met again in Brussels, but this time at the level of the negotiator teams.
Kosovo is showing another approach on Serbian, something that was being relished broadly.
“While Serbia was accusing Kosovo that it was not implementing the agreement, in a cold analysis you can see that it is the Serbian side that it’s not implementing any agreement”, says Bardhyl Hasanpapaj, analyst.
Vucic came in the second meeting knowing that it will be challenging to discuss with the Kosovan side. The July 19 meeting was reportedly tenser and concluded with an exchange of accusations.
“I am trying to talk to him. According to the Washington Agreement, the two sides are obliged not to lobby pro or against Kosovo’s recognition until September 1”, said Vucic.
In this meeting, Kurti came forward with a 9-point plan which he asked Vucic to sign in order to reach an agreement. In addition, he gave the Serbian President 3 books describing the deeds of Serbs against Kosovars.
But Kurti’s offer was turned down.
“Today, I initially proposed a written agreement with 6 articles, as a form of declaration of peace between Kosovo and Serbia, which got refused”, Kurti said at the time.
The opposition complained that Kurti was being shady about the meeting.
“Firstly, this dialogue is being conveyed with extraordinary ambiguity”, said Abelard Tahiri, an MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo.
“Infringing principles and an arrogance that may be very costly for Kosovo”, said analyst and former lawmaker Milaim Zeka. “Primitive nationalism and arrogance that Kurti is showing in Brussels, not in face of Vucic, but European and American, will cost Kosovo very dearly”.
But neither appraisals nor accusations have changed the outcome of both meetings in Brussels, where dialogue is set to continue. The next meeting will take place after the summer season recess.
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