Burjani: Freezing the dialogue could lead to renewed conflict

Freezing the dialogue is certainly not an alternative and could lead to renewed conflict. Instead, a platform must be found to restore relations between Kosovo and Serbia, political analyst Blerim Burjani emphasized.

Regarding the statement by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama that Kosovo should freeze its dialogue with Serbia and focus on bilateral talks with the EU, Burjani stated that the parties involved in the dialogue must understand that it is conducted for the betterment of the lives and relations between Albanians and Serbs.

According to him, if the EU believes that the dialogue should continue, it must also find a platform for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

“The dialogue should be concluded with the implementation of the Brussels Agreement and the Ohrid Annex, or a new dialogue should begin, which means that the EU must provide a platform for normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia. I do not believe the dialogue should be frozen, that is not an alternative. The parties must understand that there are no limitless dialogues – they must come to an end. Moreover, the parties must keep in mind that the dialogue is conducted for the improvement of the lives and relations between Albanians and Serbs,” Burjani stated.

He noted that freezing the dialogue could lead to a renewed form of conflict.

“The alternative should be normalization, not freezing relations, which could lead to renewed conflict. A platform that enables good relations needs to be found,” Burjani concluded.