Hoti: Progress in the dialogue depends solely on the EU and the US

Afrim Hoti, a professor of political science, stated for Kosovo Online that whether progress would be made in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, set to continue in Brussels with a high-level meeting tomorrow, depended solely on the European Union and the United States.

"If they truly want to resolve the problem, we can expect some agreement. If they are only looking to buy time until the war in Ukraine ends, then the problems will persist, and there will be no agreement," Hoti says.

Commenting on the declaration adopted by participants at the Brdo-Brijoni Summit in Skopje the day before yesterday, Hoti notes that it is not realistic, especially because of the relations between Kosovo and Serbia. At the same time, he emphasizes that the leaders of the regional countries at the summit sent a message to the Union that Western Balkan countries deserve to be part of the EU.

"Regional leaders just want to show the European Union that it is okay for Western Balkan countries to be part of it. I don't think the declaration is realistic, especially due to the inability to resolve issues between Serbia and Kosovo. It only serves to prolong the trend so that Belgrade and Pristina can say, 'Yes, we are with the EU, but one side or the other is to blame for this situation.' It's just a rhetorical proposal, and there is nothing concrete," Hoti believes.

According to him, without resolving the ongoing crisis, Kosovo and Serbia cannot hope for integration.

"Without resolving the problems we currently have, I don't see options for Kosovo or Serbia regarding European integration. First, this situation must be resolved, and then we can talk about normal relations with the EU," our interlocutor adds.

He also believes that the EU pursues an ambiguous policy toward Kosovo and Serbia.

"The EU pursues a policy of ambiguity. On the one hand, it talks to Belgrade and says that Serbia is okay, primarily because of Belgrade's position toward Russia. On the other hand, Kosovo is a bigger problem. Measures have been imposed, and the EU has no clear goal in the dialogue process. It says 'yes' to Kosovo and Serbia's accession if they meet all the Union's conditions, but even the EU doesn't know how both sides will fulfill those conditions," Hoti says.