Gogic: Kurti and Osmani are playing good cop, bad cop on CSM

Political analyst Ognjen Gogic commented on the call by Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani for greater US involvement in the normalization process between Belgrade and Pristina, including the drafting of the statute for the Community of Serb Municipalities, saying that it was just "throwing dust in the eyes."

Gogic pointed out for Kosovo Online that Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti constantly played the roles of "good cop and bad cop."

"While Albin Kurti radically rejects the idea of forming the Community of Serb Municipalities, Vjosa Osmani wants to present herself as more constructive. I believe this is not a sincere intention to actually engage in the process but a way to buy time and create the impression that Kosovo is doing something to meet the demands placed before it," Gogic said.

He reminds that one of those requirements was to demonstrate that Kosovo was taking action related to the demands of the EU and the US to de-escalate the situation in the north and provide administrative guidance for holding elections in four municipalities with Serbian majority.

"It's all a simulation, and there are no real, concrete steps. It's indicative that Osmani called on the US because it will be more easily accepted by the public than talking about cooperation with Europeans, as there have been recent complaints about the EU's bias in favor of Serbia," Gogic noted.

He believes it's more about "throwing dust in the eyes" than a genuine announcement of a new policy by Kosovo's authorities.

"In the current situation, in which Kosovo 'came out as a winner,' in the sense that it gained some capital in the dialogue and after hints that sanctions imposed by the EU and the US on Kosovo could be eased, Pristina now wants to present itself as more constructive in these relations to potentially deserve the removal of those measures," Gogic emphasized.