Kosovo dialogue with Serbia should include representatives of the oppositions in both sides. This would encourage comprehensiveness and inclusiveness of political debate of harsh dealing with the troubled past. Although in Serbia, one can hardly call for the opposition with latest elections, Kosovo has strongest opposition that is ever had. With the former Kosovo Liberation Army leadership in PDK, under investigation by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (KSC & SPO) and Vetevendosje as one of the more nationalist and left-wing opposition, any deal is weak from the start.
Kosovo dialogue with Serbia is one of the century challenges both for the region of the Western Balkans but also Europe. Europe being autistic regarding Balkans and Balkans being on the verge of another conflict with latest developments of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (KSC & SPO).
The filing of an indictment (still unconfirmed) of ten points by the SPO which is part of the Kosovar justice system based in The Hague against the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, accusing the President of Kosovo, the Kosovar politician and former Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Kadri Veseli and others, for a range of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, enforced disappearances, persecution and torture in the late 1990s, appear to be leading another unpredictable journey of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.
Falling of the Kurti´s Government under pressure from international partners, as claimed by Kurti and Vetevendosje and raising of Hoti Government in Kosovo, although through democratic process of voting deepened the polarization in the Kosovar society. Kurti calls the government led by LDK ´an illegitimate government´ and LDK is unable to counter such growing narrative. With 61 votes, this is one of the weakest governments Kosovo ever had. To make matters worse, LDK discharged the LDK based Speaker of the Parliament of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani from her party position of vice chair because she has been disobedient and siding with Vetevendosje.
For Kosovo, there are two fronts now: One internal battle for power and elimination of senior political figures and one external battle for support in the international community. A support which has weakened last decade. The situation with the dialogue is even more delicate with the appointment of Miroslav Lajčák as EU Special Representative for Serbia-Kosovo Dialogue. Lajčák was appointed for a 12 month period which is likely to pass quickly without any agreement in horizon. His mandate is to achieve comprehensive normalization of the relations between Serbia and Kosovo, improve good neighborly relations and reconciliation between partners in the Western Balkans, helping them overcome the legacy of the past, and contribute to the consistency and effectiveness of EU action in the Western Balkans. Such tasks seem impossible with the same people. Einstein infamously said that “Stupidity is doing same thing and expecting different results” and EU seem to do exactly that with Lajčák who comes in this position from a disadvantageous position of non-recognizing country within the EU.
With upcoming elections in US, Kosovo has become a hot topic for Trump and his envoy Richard Greenell. US was not spared the embarrassment of failed summit at the White House when Thaci and Veseli had to return back to Kosovo after the announcement by the SPO was made for the indictment. Although this is not confirmed by the Court, it has a political influence on the dialogue inevitably.
For Kosovo, closing the dialogue with Serbia means Kosovo’s membership in the UN, visa liberalization for EU and political and economic stability. For Serbia, closing the deal with Kosovo means opening new chapters in the EU integration process. For both, this means political stability in the Balkans.
All these developments that are taking place just before the meeting of the Kosovar and Serbian delegations and before an agreement is made, seem to mine that peace process. In one hand, Kosovo being in a delicate situation should include the opposition, namely PDK and VV in the dialogue if they want better chances of this agreement standing a chance at the Kosovo Parliament. In the other hand, Serbia should include their opposition as well. This agreement, if at all, is between nations and states and not governments.
Arbesa Hoxha- Dobrunaj, Kosovo based analyst that focuses on current affairs, communication and technology. She studied Albanian Literature, and Economics, Management and Information Sciences. MA in Journalism and Communication. Co-authored the Worlds of Journalism Study report on Kosovo Journalists.
