Joksimovic: An active approach in the dialogue, which is lacking, is also needed for the lifting of EU sanctions

The Director of the Center for Foreign Policy, Aleksandra Joksimovic, stated that the sanctions imposed on Kosovo by the European Union were never fully implemented, and that in addition to de-escalation in the north, an active approach in the dialogue with Serbia is also a condition for lifting the sanctions, which she says is unrealistic to expect because the Pristina institutions have still not been formed, and new elections are coming.

“We first have to start from the fact that the sanctions imposed on Kosovo were never fully implemented and that they were primarily symbolic in character. Apart from de-escalation in the north, I think that one of the key moments was also an active approach to the Belgrade–Pristina dialogue, which is still lacking. The absence of institutions and their formation after the electoral process is leading to a new cycle of elections. Therefore, at this moment it is unrealistic to expect any significant breakthrough in the dialogue process itself, especially at a higher level,” Joksimovic told Kosovo Online.

Noting that the Serbian community regained the municipalities that, as she says, belong to it on the local elections because it constitutes the majority in them, she emphasized that this does not necessarily mean de-escalation.

According to her, when it comes to the issue of de-escalation in northern Kosovo, the answer will be seen in the coming period, but not before the end of the election cycle.

“As for the local elections that were held, the Serbian community participated and won what was expected, it regained the municipalities in which it forms the majority. Whether that fact alone is enough to conclude that de-escalation is to be expected in the future is a question for which we will only see the answer in the time ahead, but given that the pre-election campaign is coming, it seems that this topic will again be high on the agenda in addressing the voters, so I am not sure that such de-escalation will be ensured before the new election cycle is completed,” Joksimovic said.

When asked whether the lifting of sanctions on Kosovo could be expected before the December elections, Joksimovic said that the EU and the countries supporting Pristina are dissatisfied with Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister, Albin Kurti.

“It is always very difficult to speak hypothetically, but what is evident is that for a longer period of time the European Union and the countries that support Pristina have been dissatisfied with the actions of the current technical prime minister. It seems to me that there is no political will in the context of any support for his political option in the upcoming elections,” Joksimovic emphasized.