The role of the international community in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, before the meeting in the USA between Kosovo and Serbia, was evaluated as a small hope but perhaps for the slow achievement of peace. The meeting in the USA had more of an economic character than a political one. Israel's recognition of Kosovo was the only point that had great importance for Kosovo, but of course this conference had greater economic importance. The attempt was to relax political relations through economic cooperation, this conference seemed to have characters or meaning of relaxation and economic development between Kosovo and Serbia. This conference is thought that it would open the possibility later, i.e. the other stages, to conclude the Kosovo-Serbian dialogue. According to Kosovar analysts, American engagement within the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue is vital for the country, due to the fact that, according to them, the Brussels dialogue has not produced many results for 10 years now. Therefore, in this context, the only hope remains the USA. The only hope remains the USA to end the frozen conflict and the obstacle of Kosovo to be part of the UN, NATO and EU integration. So the Kosovars want the USA as a strong and stable mediator because, the USA knows how to use diplomacy even with sanctions and the Americans do not allow the dialogue to drag on forever without a final solution.
Table of Contents
Entry
EU and the Berlin Process
Liberalization of visas for Kosovo - a long process - a multi-year "marathon"
Free interpretation for: "Agreement of the Association of Serbian Municipalities" by Blerim Burjani
The placement of Kosovo in footnote does not present legal-international significance for other states
European Parliament Approach
Kosovo –Serbia dialog in Washington September 4, 2019
Challenges of dialogue in the future?
Progress or regress in dialogue
Political Action Steps
Reciprocal addressing of the minorities in Kosovo – Serbian minority - and the Albanian minority in Presheva Valley
Life without satus que
New energy for dialogue
Franco-German Plan
Conclusions
Objectives and Topics
This work examines the complex political and diplomatic landscape of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, focusing on the historical challenges, the role of international mediators, and the necessity of finding a sustainable, constitutional solution. It critically assesses the effectiveness of past agreements and explores future pathways for normalization, particularly in the context of European integration.
- Historical evolution of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue since 2011.
- Evaluation of the "Association of Serbian Municipalities" and constitutional constraints.
- Challenges associated with international mediation and the "footnote" status of Kosovo.
- Strategic analysis of potential future scenarios, including the Franco-German plan.
Excerpt from the Book
Kosovo –Serbia dialog in Washington September 4, 2019
The Washington agreement in one of the points says among other things that Kosovo should do not seek recognition from other states for a year as long as Serbia is instructed not to pursue unconstructive policies in relation to Kosovo in terms of its diplomatic request that other states do not recognize the state of Kosovo and give up those states that have recognized until now.
The European Commission refers to Kosovo with a footnote. According to the same report this year (2013), Kosovo participates in the Stabilization and Association Process and is constructively engaged in the Stabilization and Association Process Dialogue (SAPD).
The 2013 cycle of SAPD meetings was completed by a plenary meeting and a civil society plenary meeting in July. In June, Kosovo engaged in a dialogue with the EU on public administration reform through a special public administration reform group. A structured dialogue on the rule of Law was launched in 2011 to facilitate and monitor progress in the rule of law. To date, two meetings have taken place, in May 2012 and February 2013. The visa liberalization dialogue has continued during the reporting period. In February, the Commission released a first report on Kosovo's visa liberalization efforts and three meetings of senior officials have been held. This report reads as follows Kosovo and Serbia have actively and constructively participated in an EU facilitation dialogue, which was modernized into a high-level political process with the facilitation of the High Representative after the 2012 elections in Serbia. Seventeen high-level meetings have been attended by the two Prime Ministers since October 2012. Since January 2013, the meetings of the two Prime Ministers have focused on northern Kosovo and providing structures that meet the security and justice needs of the local population in a in order to ensure the institutional and administrative functionality established in Kosovo, in accordance with the Council of December 2012 Conclusions.
Summary of Chapters
Entry: Provides an overview of the role of the international community in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and assesses the economic versus political significance of recent high-level meetings.
EU and the Berlin Process: Discusses the importance of reactivating the Berlin Process for Western Balkan integration and criticizes territorial exchange debates as dangerous for regional stability.
Liberalization of visas for Kosovo - a long process - a multi-year "marathon": Analyzes the delay in visa liberalization and the urgency of decoupling free movement from broader political negotiations.
Free interpretation for: "Agreement of the Association of Serbian Municipalities" by Blerim Burjani: Offers a constitutional critique of the proposed association, emphasizing the need for legal clarity and compliance with the state structure.
The placement of Kosovo in footnote does not present legal-international significance for other states: Argues that the "footnote" status is an ineffective political compromise that fails to resolve substantive international legal standings.
European Parliament Approach: Highlights the constructive stance of the European Parliament in contrast to the sluggish engagement of other EU institutions regarding Kosovo's recognition.
Kosovo –Serbia dialog in Washington September 4, 2019: Reviews the trilateral commitments made in Washington and their implications for economic normalization and bilateral relations.
Challenges of dialogue in the future?: Explores the high-level hurdles and the necessity for more decisive and transparent mediation strategies.
Progress or regress in dialogue: Critically evaluates the lack of concrete progress in technical talks and the shifting focus toward long-term political settlements.
Political Action Steps: Outlines strategic policy options, including economic incentives and minority rights protections, to facilitate a breakthrough.
Reciprocal addressing of the minorities in Kosovo – Serbian minority - and the Albanian minority in Presheva Valley: Proposes a balanced approach to minority protection as a potential solution to mitigate ethnic tensions.
Life without satus que: Examines the risks of maintaining the current frozen conflict and the consequences for regional stability.
New energy for dialogue: Analyzes the impact of new diplomatic initiatives and the pressure for an all-inclusive agreement by the end of the year.
Franco-German Plan: Details the articles of the Franco-German proposal and assesses its potential to serve as a roadmap for future normalization.
Conclusions: Summarizes the key findings, noting that 11 years of dialogue have yielded mixed results and advocating for a more decisive commitment from the EU and USA.
Key Words
Kosovo, Serbia, Dialogue, Normalization, European Union, USA, Association of Serbian Municipalities, Constitutional order, International recognition, Berlin Process, Franco-German Plan, Diplomacy, Regional stability, Minority rights, Status quo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this work primarily focus on?
The work focuses on the decade-long Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, analyzing its historical development, the role of major international powers, and why the process has largely failed to achieve permanent normalization.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The core themes include the effectiveness of EU- and US-led mediation, the constitutional validity of proposed agreements like the Association of Serbian Municipalities, and the impact of the "footnote" status on international recognition.
What is the primary research question or goal?
The author aims to clarify the obstacles to a final agreement and argues for an accelerated, transparent diplomatic approach that leads to mutual recognition and European integration.
Which scientific or analytical method is used?
The author employs a legal-political analysis, combining constitutional interpretation with an evaluation of past bilateral agreements and recent diplomatic developments in the Western Balkans.
What is the focus of the main body of the work?
The main part details the history of Brussels-negotiated agreements, criticizes the lack of transparency in top-down negotiations, and presents specific policy options, such as the Franco-German plan, for resolving the impasse.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is defined by terms like Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, European integration, constitutional integrity, normalization, and international mediation.
Why does the author consider the "Association of Serbian Municipalities" controversial?
The author suggests the original concept potentially violates the constitutional order of Kosovo and criticizes its current formulation as an "undefined body" prone to misuse by parallel structures.
What role does Blerim Burjani see for the USA?
Burjani argues that US diplomatic engagement is vital because the EU's mediation effort is perceived as sluggish and unable to force a final solution to the frozen conflict.
How does the author view the "footnote" designation?
The author regards the footnote as an unnecessary and ineffective diplomatic tool that neither advances Kosovo's integration nor resolves the underlying conflict with Serbia.
- Quote paper
- Blerim Burjani (Author), 2022, The International Community Approach Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue. Kosovo History without End, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1311640
