Demirtas: Turkey can play the role of mediator between Serbia and Kosovo

Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo back in 2008 after its declaration of independence, and the fact that Kosovo has begun purchasing Turkish drones is an important sign that relations are deepening, even militarily, according to Dr. Prof. Birgul Demirtas from the Turkish-German University in Istanbul, Department of Political Science and International Relations.

As noted by the interlocutor of Kosovo Online, "Kosovo is one of the key countries for Turkey in the Balkans."

"Turkey supported the process of Kosovo's recognition by other countries, and Ankara still has its soldiers present in the KFOR mission," she states.

On the other hand, as she emphasizes, the cooperation between Pristina and Ankara cannot jeopardize Turkey's relations with Serbia.

"Turkey and Serbia have agreed to disagree on the Kosovo issue. They have completely different policies toward Kosovo, however, they have managed to separate their relationship. They collaborate in many fields, but regarding Kosovo, they have different approaches. They accept that they have different views on Kosovo," she says.

When asked about the extent of Turkey's influence in Kosovo and the Western Balkans, the professor from the University of Istanbul asserts that Ankara is an important regional actor in the Balkans.

"It is part of the region, and among its multiple identities, it also has a Balkan identity. Turkey has an influence on kindred groups. Alongside TIKA investments, cultural institutes like Yunus Emre, Turkish scholarships, and the local diplomacy of Turkish municipalities, there is a wide range of institutes and actors playing an active role in the region. Turkish diplomacy in the Balkans transcends the boundaries of classical foreign policy. However, it should be noted that Turkey is not a regional hegemon. Instead, it is an important regional actor that influences the region through its activities," she says, adding:

"I believe that Turkey can play a mediating role between Serbia and Kosovo because it has friendly relations with both. Turkish decision-makers can use the experience of trilateral mechanisms initiated in 2009 regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina as inspiration. Turkey can attempt to create a new dialogue mechanism by bringing together political and economic actors from both countries. The diplomacy of the two-track Turkish business associations can be revitalized to bring together economic actors from both countries. The TOBB initiative (Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey) from 2015 can serve as a model in this regard," Demirtas says.