Grubjesic: Only concrete steps toward the formation of the CSM represent progress in the dialogue

Suzana Grubjesic, Vice President of the Center for Foreign Policy, believes that only concrete steps toward the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities can be considered progress in the negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia, as reported by Blic.

"If there are no serious, rather than symbolic steps toward the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities, there will be no epochal results in Brussels because this issue has been revolving for more than a decade. We need to stop the farce regarding the resignations of illegitimate mayors in northern Kosovo and Metohija, thus creating space for Serbian participation in new elections," Grubjesic emphasized.

However, due to the statements of Kosovo leaders, she does not have high hopes for the meeting in Brussels on September 14.

"The statements and behavior of the Kosovo side ahead of the meeting in Brussels do not provide grounds to believe that there will be a real de-escalation in the north and further easing of tensions. They did not even take seriously Stoltenberg's clear message that the deployment of the Kosovo Security Force in the north requires KFOR's permission and that coordination with KFOR is needed for the actions of the Kosovo Police," Grubjesic stated.

As she added, her hopes lie in the EU and the US.

"I can only hope that after the summer break, the EU and the US are more determined to normalize the situation in the north, as it represents a threat to the stability of the entire region," Grubjesic emphasized.