Expectations from the new special envoy Karen Pierce: Is the UK strengthening its position in the Balkans?

The United Kingdom has appointed Karen Pierce, the current ambassador to the USA, as the new special envoy to the Western Balkans. Analysts unanimously agree that the selection of a high-ranking career diplomat sends a clear message about the importance of the region to the United Kingdom, which is why they also expect her to focus on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue issue.

Written by: Arsenije Vuckovic

Karen Pierce will take over the position in the spring, from the current special envoy, Stuart Peach.

"Her exceptional experience and expertise make her ideal for the role of the UK's special envoy, especially as we are hosting this year's Berlin Process summit," said British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Calming tensions in the region

Mazlum Baraliu, a university professor from Pristina, reminds us that the United Kingdom is principled in assisting the Western Balkans, and the new special envoy's engagement and authority will influence the calming of passions in the region, as well as further finalizing the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

"The United Kingdom is very principled in helping the Western Balkans resolve problems that the countries of the region have both among themselves and in relation to integration. Although they have left the EU, they are actually the most experienced in democratic, political, and diplomatic processes, so this is good for everyone," says Baraliu in an interview for Kosovo online.

Despite her rich diplomatic experience, there are doubts that Pierce will have the freedom to make key decisions regarding the region and the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue on her own.

"Ultimately, everything will depend on the Foreign Office, the government of the United Kingdom, and not on a single envoy, no matter how principled or engaged. The government's positions will also determine the approach to the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. However, it is good what they have done, because you know that in recent years there have been many special envoys from various countries. I think it is good news that Karen Pierce, a proven experienced and principled diplomat, will be able to help improve relations between Kosovo and Serbia," emphasizes Baraliu.

He primarily sees her contribution as calming the situation in the region.

"The United Kingdom is a champion of diplomacy, and if you will, a source of democracy and diplomacy. Britain is careful and knows what it is doing in European politics and diplomacy, despite being outside the EU. I think they will contribute to calming the situation, especially in this whirlpool of political and geopolitical turmoil and the international system that is clearly changing in terms of multipolar events and centers of power," Baraliu is convinced.

Official London and its envoys have a supportive role for all countries of the Western Balkans and Kosovo, and the new special envoy can influence both Belgrade and Pristina, Baraliu believes.

"Especially in Pristina, because the relationships of the executive institution representatives, I mean the government and the prime minister, with the United Kingdom are excellent. I think the positive influence of the United Kingdom will to a certain extent have an impact on calming things down and moving towards improving and normalizing relations and improving the dialogue process, which will certainly be more intense this year," Baraliu emphasizes.

Stable - Policy of Pressure

On the other hand, Stefan Surlic, an associate professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, believes that her appointment continues the UK's stable policy towards the region, which includes continuing pressure on Belgrade and supporting Pristina.

"She continues a very stable and continuous policy of the United Kingdom towards this region. It is clear that the United Kingdom is one of the biggest advocates for Kosovo in international organizations," Surlic highlights in a conversation for Kosovo online.

It is expected that Pierce will continue her personal efforts to see Kosovo in all international organizations, primarily as a full member of the United Nations.

"She has personally advocated for Kosovo's membership in the UN. In line with previous British policy, but also her own political biography, we can conclude that Britain will continue, above all, a policy of pressure towards Belgrade and a policy of absolute support for Pristina to achieve full membership in all international organizations," emphasizes Surlic.

Control of Migration Flows

However, for the former ambassador of the FR Yugoslavia to the OSCE and a member of the Forum for International Relations, Branka Latinovic, the focus of the new British special envoy for the Western Balkans will not be on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, but rather on greater control of migration flows in the region, which will also be a key issue at the Berlin Process summit to be held in London in the fall.

"From what has been announced as priorities, in what the United Kingdom will focus on as the host and chair of that summit, it is something that is in continuity with its interest in the Balkans. The forefront will be the issue of 'law enforcement', which includes police, prosecution, border services, and migration flows. This again is in the interest and focus of the United Kingdom. These positions do not change and will not change, especially since Britain itself is strongly present in Kosovo, primarily through its military contingents," explains Latinovic.

She believes that the role of the British envoy for the Western Balkans in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue process will largely depend on the scope of the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.

"We will see what the scope of the new European representative Kaja Kallas will be. Whether she (Pierce) will have room to be more actively involved or whether a model, a modus will be found on how she will act together with the high representative in a synchronized duo, and thus they will together give a stronger impetus related to the continuation and some form of finalization of this dialogue," emphasizes Latinovic.

British Interests in the Balkans

Political analyst from Pristina, Shkelzen Maliqi, in a conversation for Kosovo online, states that nothing special should be expected from the new British special envoy for the Western Balkans, Catherine Pierce, because although this country is interested in the region and has a clear political stance regarding the crisis in Kosovo, it is not the "main player" in the dialogue process between Belgrade and Pristina.

"They are part of the Quint, a permanent member of the UN Security Council and have always had clear positions about the crisis in Kosovo, though they are not the main player. That is Brussels. Now, the main thing is that maybe over the summer or in an accelerated manner, an attempt will be made to resolve the implementation of the Ohrid-Brussels agreement," emphasizes Maliqi.

Maliqi notes that initially, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic delayed the agreement due to elections and "his calculations," and then Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti "was supposedly ready to sign" what was agreed upon in Ohrid.

"For the EU, this verbal agreement is recorded as an agreement between two parties, as a valid international document. They will try to capitalize on it and probably may even have the support of Trump and the American administration to close this issue and move forward, in forming the Community of Serb Municipalities and at the same time realize all the other agreements that have long been signed," Maliqi emphasized.

He stresses that the role of the new Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Karen Pierce, should primarily be viewed through their interest in the region.

"The English have always been interested in the Balkans and have always had strong representatives. The first facilitator of the dialogue was Catherine Ashton. She was in some ways the most successful so far," the analyst recalls.

Asked what his expectations are from the new special envoy, Catherine Pierce, regarding the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Maliqi says he does not have high expectations, but expects she will be helpful.

"Nothing special should be expected, but the English have always been skilled diplomats and will probably be of help," Maliqi stated.