Hoti: Rambouillet was a crucial moment for Serbia-Kosovo relations

Analyst Afrim Hoti tells Kosovo Online that the negotiations in Rambouillet 25 years ago were a very important, historical momentum in Serbia and Kosovo relations, but that the diametrically opposed positions of the two sides created circumstances for the failure of that conference.

Serbia, he says, was willing to accept everything except Kosovo's independence, while Kosovo leaders were not prepared to accept anything other than independence, which prolonged the negotiation process and ultimately ended in failure.

"It was a contribution of Western countries to resolve the Kosovo issue. Although the Republic of Kosovo was not mentioned by name in Rambouillet, today we talk about the success of that event. We talk about the 25th anniversary, and the issue, the case of Kosovo, is not yet finished, but regardless of everything, I think it was a crucial and historical moment not only for Serbia and Kosovo relations but for the entire Western Balkans region," Hoti says.

After 25 years, negotiations like those in Rambouillet, he believes, are not the solution for Serbia and Kosovo relations.

"Kosovo is a sovereign country recognized by 117 UN members, and in such conditions, the only mechanism to move forward is international pressure on Serbia to recognize the new reality. We have a new reality, a newborn, and all we need to do is to help and raise the newborn in the best possible way," Hoti says.