Jovanovic: The question is whether Sorensen will have the strength to enforce agreements on his own

Historian Luka Jovanovic believes that the diplomatic actions of Peter Sorensen, the EU's Special Representative for Dialogue, since assuming this role and leading up to his arrival in Belgrade, suggest that he is determined to use his mandate to restart the stalled Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. However, Jovanovic notes that this will be difficult and that the real question at this moment is which topics Sorensen will prioritize as a mediator.

According to Jovanovic, the issue that requires immediate resolution and attention from both sides, as well as from the international community, is the current situation of the Serbian population in Kosovo, particularly the threats they face due to the actions of the Pristina authorities over the past two years.

"What Pristina has done in the past two years has resulted in the complete loss of the little trust that previously existed, which had been built during earlier phases of the dialogue. We've seen the same old pattern – agreements reached at the negotiating table are largely ignored on the ground. And when the time comes for their implementation, they are either completely nullified or deliberately avoided, especially by the Pristina administration. Over the past year or two, the dialogue has effectively collapsed, and restarting it from square one will be extremely difficult," Jovanovic argues.

However, he emphasizes that Sorensen is a diplomat with decades of experience dealing with issues related to the Western Balkans and is well aware of all the challenges surrounding the dialogue process.

"Of course, he is part of the broader European Union administration, which is influenced by many factors. The real question is whether he alone has the power to compel the side that has so far failed to fulfill its obligations to do so first, before moving on to new agreements. Personally, I doubt that will happen. I believe the same old approach will continue – seeking new agreements even though the previous ones have not been implemented," he states.

Jovanovic also notes that political turmoil is currently underway in Pristina regarding the formation of a new government and that the election results have disrupted the plans of the current Pristina leadership. He emphasizes that Sorensen himself has suggested that whoever forms the new government in Pristina must be prepared for a new round of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.