Canaj: Progress in dialogue only after the US and Kosovo elections

Blerim Canaj, a professor of political history from Pristina, says for Kosovo Online that due to the upcoming elections in Kosovo and the US presidential election, the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo is unlikely to resume before February next year and that such a scenario suits both Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic.

Commenting on the statement by the chief European negotiator Miroslav Lajcak that there is no alternative to the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, Canaj says that while this is true, no one knows when it will actually happen.

"We all know there is no alternative, but how long will it take? For now, I don’t believe there will be any progress since elections are approaching in Kosovo, and the political battle is ongoing. On the other hand, Lajcak is nearing the end of his career when it comes to the dialogue, so naturally, he has to say or do something, after all, he is being paid for this job. I also don’t think Vucic is ready to make any moves. I always say that neither Vucic nor Kurti are interested in progress because this situation benefits both of their political careers," Canaj said.

He expects progress only after the Kosovo elections.

"After the elections in Kosovo, maybe we will see something. But let’s first see how the elections turn out. This process must come to an end at some point because it has been dragging on for too long, but for now, until February, I don’t expect anything," Canaj emphasized.

He also points out that the US presidential election delays the dialogue process.

"They must get involved because, without them, I don’t believe there will be any progress," Canaj assessed.

When asked whether this would mean new pressures on Serbia to recognize Kosovo, the professor said it is difficult to predict.

"I don’t know, it is hard to say. There will always be pressure for recognition. Now, whether Serbia will recognize Kosovo or not, or how it will do so, I can’t say," Canaj concluded.