Celic: Sorensen is trying to present the dialogue as successful; EU has lost credibility

Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law in North Mitrovica Dusko Celic told Kosovo Online that the EU Special Envoy for the Belgrade–Pristina Dialogue, Peter Sorensen, is trying through his statements to portray the dialogue as a successful process under his leadership.

In an interview with the Italian agency Nova, Sorensen said that much of what happens in the Belgrade–Pristina dialogue takes place “behind the scenes,” but that real progress is being made “every day.”

According to Celic, if that is true, everyone should be concerned about the lack of transparency in the dialogue process.

“If what Mr. Sorensen said is true, that things are happening behind the scenes, then I think we should all be worried. That means there is a lack of what we call transparency in negotiations, and that some solutions might catch us off guard,” Celic said.

However, Celic believes that Sorensen’s remarks are an attempt to present the Brussels dialogue process as successful, as well as to emphasize his own leadership role in it.

“We all know, unfortunately, that this process has reached a dead end for several reasons. First, there is a crisis within the government and leadership in Pristina. Second, there have been unilateral moves by Pristina. So I would interpret that statement as a kind of self-praise without substance,” Celic assessed.

Asked whether the EU, based on Sorensen’s statement, applies different standards to Belgrade and Pristina, given that no negotiators’ meetings have been held for some time, even though Sorensen claims there has been progress, Celic said he does not believe so, since the EU has lost credibility.

“The EU has lost credibility, not only when it comes to managing the Brussels process and the Belgrade–Pristina negotiations, but in general. The European Union is preoccupied with the war in Ukraine, so obviously we have to wait. Whether we are waiting for Godot or for the United States, we will see. The negotiations have always taken place in the shadow of the United States, with all agreements signed and achieved under its influence, so I expect results only when the United States becomes active again. From the European Union, Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija cannot expect anything good or concrete at this moment,” Celic concluded.