Summary of the Week 41

At the end of each year, it is time to tally up expectations, reevaluate what has been fulfilled, and formulate wishes. Big dreams are desirable but risky. Whose hopes have been awakened, and whose extinguished in the past week?

Everything can be a success; it just depends on how much you hoped for it. That's why this week's meeting in Brussels can be considered successful.

"Dialogue exceeded expectations because nobody had any," explains political scientist Ognjen Gogic.

However, when expectations are higher, disappointment is logically greater and hard to hide, even among friends.

Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani expected more from the EU-Western Balkans Summit. "I must say that I am absolutely dissatisfied with the treatment Kosovo has received and the decision not to lift the sanctions," said Osmani.

Many have long given up on significant results and so-called de-escalation in Kosovo. Those who tried to mediate are slowly giving up, both symbolically and literally.

"The entire dialogue has gone more into emptiness than anything really being achieved," summarizes the dialogue during Miroslav Lajcak's mediation by Agim Shahini, President of the Kosovo Business Alliance.

Reality, many believe who have read the census results, can be slightly adjusted if you have high expectations from it. Thus, even after nine months of counting and tallying, everyone believes in their sum.

"How many Serbs and how many Albanians there actually are, no one really knows," says analyst Nikola Markovic after the census was published.

It may not be known exactly, but it is known enough. Therefore, expectations are practically undivided. Historian Aleksandar Gudzic says:

"Will Albanians, that is, official Pristina use the census for some manipulations and political games? Well, I believe they will."

Because of high expectations at the elections, political games now include more players. And the game has spread to the region.

"The regional tour is painted with pre-election colors," comments Petar Donic from the "New Third Way."

There is no hope for many colors and nuances. It is more realistic, at least until February 9th, that everything will be mainly black and white. Sprinkled, believe analysts, with occasional sharp tones.

We cannot hope for brighter colors in politics. Fortunately, they exist on the streets and in New Year's wishes.