Sørensen’s visit to Belgrade and Pristina: Between local turbulence and Brussels’ assignments

A routine visit and a good discussion. This is how, rather sparingly, the new European mediator in the dialogue, Peter Sørensen, described the meetings he held over the past two days in Pristina and Belgrade. For interlocutors of Kosovo Online, his meetings with the chief negotiators are seen as a "prelude" to the work that lies ahead of him. The only doubt is whether this visit was well-timed, given the turbulence both in Pristina and in Belgrade.

Written by: Djordje Barovic

“We had good discussions about our latest efforts and the areas where progress can be made in the Dialogue,” he wrote following his meetings in Belgrade.

He was not much more forthcoming in Pristina either.

“It is a normal visit, I am happy to be here. I will go to Belgrade, and then to Brussels. We are working, that’s all,” he briefly told reporters after meeting with Pristina’s chief negotiator in the dialogue, Besnik Bislimi.

Bislimi himself was not much more verbose.

A statement from his office said that the discussions focused on "the implementation of various agreements at the technical level," and that the "importance" of initiating talks on implementing the agreements reached in Brussels and Ohrid was "emphasized."

There was much more openness in Belgrade, where Sørensen, in addition to meeting with the Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija and chief negotiator Petar Petkovic, also held talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Djuric and the Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starovic.
Various problems were presented during all the talks, but one clear message emerged: Pristina’s unilateral actions pose the greatest threat and obstacle to the dialogue, as well as to the normal life of the Serbian community in Kosovo.

Moving the “Stalemate”

Dimitrije Milic, Program Director of the organization New Third Way, told Kosovo Online that the visit of the European mediator in the dialogue should not come as a surprise, as the new European administration aims to move the negotiations from a deadlock.

However, Milic sees the problem not only in the current institutional crisis in Pristina but also in disagreements between Brussels and Washington on many issues, including the Kosovo question.

“Sørensen’s visit is somewhat sudden in the short term when it comes to Pristina. But in the long term, it is not a surprise. It should even become the norm because the Belgrade–Pristina dialogue has been stagnant for quite some time. The EU now has the task—with the new Commission, new mandate, and new political backing—to try to move the dialogue off dead center. And it’s not just about the dialogue; in some way, there is also a barrier because the institutional crisis in Kosovo hampers the establishment of a dialogue that would have the backing of a clear government with a clear mandate,” Milic explained.

Future activities of the European administration will largely focus on the Kosovo side, he believes, once relations in Pristina stabilize.

He sees an additional challenge in the fact that no significant progress has been made even in previous years.

"If we look at the overall atmosphere over the past two and a half years, we can see that progress in relations has been very slow. Even when some technical progress is made, the political relations remain far from being at a high level, and interethnic relations are continually in crisis when it comes to engagement with Kosovo’s institutions," Milic points out.

He adds that the EU will also face additional problems that the new European mediator has either already “addressed” or will soon address, particularly regarding the U.S. approach to the Belgrade–Pristina dialogue.

"With Trump, the U.S. will likely return to its assertive, unilateral approach regarding the Kosovo issue, rather than the wholehearted support for European initiatives that we saw under Biden. During Trump's first term, we saw mostly American unilateralism and little coordination with Brussels, with various initiatives running parallel to the EU’s efforts. This will be even more pronounced now, as relations between Washington and Brussels—or Washington and Berlin—are at a lower level than even during Trump's first term. The EU will face a much more difficult task in establishing the dialogue, especially without the American support it had during Biden’s term, when even with that support, progress was very slow in practical terms," Milic explains.

Dialogue Blockade

Political analyst from Pristina, Artan Muhaxhiri, believes that the new European mediator Peter Sørensen faces a "difficult situation" and that due to problems both in Pristina and Belgrade, the dialogue will be blocked for a long time.

"Sørensen is in a very difficult position because the dialogue is blocked—due to events in Serbia, where we have student protests, and in Kosovo, where there are problems with constituting the Assembly. The dialogue was difficult even before these problems, and now the difficulties have doubled, even tripled. I don't think he will have a major impact on resolving either situation. I believe the dialogue will be blocked or suspended for a long time, as there are no indications that the protests in Serbia will end soon, nor that the institutional crisis in Kosovo will be resolved," Muhaxhiri told Kosovo Online.

Commenting on Sørensen’s statement that this was a "routine visit," Muhaxhiri said that given the current developments, the new European mediator had no other choice but to wait and monitor the situation.

"That is a logical course of action and statement, but realistically, if we analyze the situation in Kosovo and Serbia, there isn't much Sørensen can do. He can't engage with President Vucic or the outgoing Prime Minister Kurti. There is no suitable context for continuing the dialogue, so everything will remain blocked until the situations in Kosovo and Serbia are resolved," Muhaxhiri said.

"New Energy"

For Petar Ivic, a fellow at the Pupin Initiative, Sørensen’s visit should be seen as a "prelude" to the continuation of the dialogue.

"This should be viewed more as a kind of prelude to the further continuation of the dialogue. Sørensen, besides having a rather subtle, technocratic style, has a deep and comprehensive understanding of the region, judging by his career in the UNMIK mission and the EU mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina," Ivic explained to Kosovo Online.

He emphasizes that this visit should also be viewed in light of the upcoming visit by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.

"There are certain indications that this could just be a major introduction for Kaja Kallas to take the lead," he clarified.

Ivic recalls that Kallas herself stated that the Belgrade–Pristina dialogue needs "new energy," but he also warns that this cannot be achieved unless the EU finds mechanisms to compel both sides to honor what has been agreed.

"New energy is certainly needed, but even more important are concrete measures to be implemented as the dialogue continues. Serbia has fully implemented everything that was asked of it. Now it is Pristina’s turn to make concessions. Without concrete pressure from Western allies on the unilateral, unconstructive, and even destructive actions of the administration led thus far by Albin Kurti, there can be no and will be no substantial progress in the dialogue," Ivic asserted.