Djukic: It would be valuable if Lajcak stayed as a mediator in the dialogue until the end

Diplomat Srecko Djukic assesses for Kosovo Online that the potential departure of Miroslav Lajcak from the role of mediator in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina will depend on Brussels' assessment of the situation in the relations between Belgrade and Pristina. He also adds that considering he likely knows this terrain better than any other diplomat, it would be valuable if he stayed in the dialogue until the end.

Some media outlets have written about the possibility of Lajcak leaving his role as a mediator, speculating that he might be re-engaged in the Slovak Government after the elections in that country.

"I think it will depend primarily on Brussels' assessment of the situation in the relations between Belgrade and Pristina, whether this dialogue can be revived soon and on what basis. Regardless of certain objections from the Pristina side, it must be acknowledged that Miroslav Lajcak has borne the greatest burden of these ungrateful negotiations so far," Djukic said for Kosovo Online.

He adds that there have been other envoys within the dialogue, including US, English, French, German, and Italian, but the main burden, along with EU High Representative Josep Borrell, has fallen on Lajcak.

Djukic, who had the opportunity to meet and talk with Lajcak during his career, says that Lajcak is an extremely experienced and talented diplomat.

"For his age, at a full 60 years old, he has tremendous experience, and without a doubt, he is a diplomat of European, even global, stature," Djukic says.

Djukic expects that regardless of the orientation of the new Slovak Government and its Prime Minister, whether it be Robert Fico, they will still take into account the need for broader interests.

"The broader interest in this case for all of Europe is how to save the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and how to revive it and bring it to an acceptable, peaceful harbor because the situation is currently quite complex," he says.

As Djukic explains, it is difficult at this moment to assess whether Lajcak will have a role in the new Slovak Government or if he will stay in the dialogue, as the Slovak Government has not yet been formed, has not received a mandate, and there are still many unknowns.

"My personal assessment is that for the job Lajcak has carried out so far, given that he probably knows our terrain here, including the relations between Belgrade and Pristina, better than any other diplomat, it would be valuable for him to stay and complete that job, regardless of the objections that they have tried to make from Pristina," he said.

When asked whether it would be more favorable for the parties in the dialogue for Lajcak to stay or go, and which side would be more pleased with his possible departure, Djukic says there is no reason for either side to be pleased because whoever comes next will know less about both sides, and additional efforts will be needed to familiarize the new mediator with the situation.

"Perhaps it may seem to someone that this would be more favorable for Pristina, but I am absolutely not convinced of that. Mediators are individuals of a special caliber because they have a special mandate. They are not there to support one side or the other but to act strictly within their mandate, which is the mandate of the EU, as the EU mediates by the UN mandate. So, those prominent diplomatic figures that appear in the world of mediation are such individuals that it's difficult for anyone to find fault with them, especially considering that Miroslav Lajcak has gone through all phases of diplomatic life - both bilateral and multilateral, crisis diplomacy, and mediation diplomacy. I think that someone like him in his position would be difficult to replace quickly," Djukic stated.