Igrutinovic: Non-paper on the Western Balkans contradicts fundamental Serbian national interests

Research Fellow at the Institute for European Studies, Milan Igrutinovic, says that the non-paper on the Western Balkans contradicts the "fundamental principles of broadly understood Serbian national interests" and is the result of initiatives by various NGOs, interest groups, and lobbies seeking to align themselves with Donald Trump’s administration through such proposals.

“These solutions seem to go against some fundamental principles of our very broadly understood national interests, regardless of political affiliations. I would describe it as a private appeal, similar to those we have seen from Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the region. I am not sure it aligns with the policies of even the current US administration, let alone the upcoming one,” Igrutinovic told Kosovo Online.

The document, recently published in Bosnian media, proposes several conferences aimed at resolving key issues in the Western Balkans, including the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

Igrutinovic views the non-paper as a "private initiative" and an attempt to impose solutions on the incoming US administration.

“This is part of a private initiative. With the arrival of a new US administration, a range of NGOs, lobby groups in America, and influential individuals are trying to make their way into that administration by introducing various topics and so-called solutions for those issues. The incoming administration, based on Donald Trump’s first term, hasn’t had a deep reservoir of Washington-standard experts, so in this somewhat chaotic situation, they are trying to push certain topics and so-called solutions for the region,” Igrutinovic explained.

Commenting on the proposed solutions, the expert describes some as unsolvable and others as meaningless.

“The issue of Kosovo recognition, which has been ongoing for 15 years, or even since 1999, will only happen if it aligns with our political sentiments and internal debates. We are not on the brink of taking that step, regardless of who is in power,” Igrutinovic said.

He describes relations between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina not as dysfunctional but rather as strained, though only rhetorically.

“The US administration will certainly not concern itself with whether Montenegro passes a law on dual citizenship; that is completely meaningless,” Igrutinovic noted.

He similarly commented on the possibility of a "collective accession of the region" to the European Union.

“The expectation of a joint accession of all countries in ‘x’ years is a distant prospect and likely won’t be addressed by this US administration, but perhaps by the one after it,” Igrutinovic concluded.