Kerr-Lindsay: It is less painful for Kosovo to accept the CSM, the alternative is to change the borders

James Kerr-Lindsay, a professor at the London School of Economics and an expert on the Western Balkans, believes that a less painful way for Kosovo to reach an agreement with Serbia on the establishment of a Community of Serb-majority Municipalities and adds that the alternative to the CSM would be to change the borders, reports Gazeta Express.

"The alternative, I will be really honest, is the change of ethnic borders, which has been discussed. If Kosovo does not want to accept that, then the best it can do is to say that it will keep the borders, but will give the Serbs significant autonomy. And in this place I must say that there is always talk that another Republic of Srpska will be created. This is nonsense. The Republic of Srpska is a very special model of autonomy, which was created in a very different situation where Serbs made up a fairly large percentage of the population in Bosnia and it was done to stop a very brutal war. No one is talking about Republic of Srpska in Kosovo," said Kerr-Lindsay in an interview with Voice of America.

He stated that in addition to those who do not understand that the CSM is not like Republic of Srpska in Bosnia, there are also those who want to cause trouble.

"Honestly, I think that some people are against it, because they don't understand that this is not Republic of Srpska. There are also many other people, especially from abroad, who talked about it, because they want to make trouble. Milorad Dodik is doing it because he wants to make trouble," said Kerr-Lindsay.

Kerr-Lindsay adds that the European proposal for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia is not historical.

"I don't think it's as described, a historical opportunity. It's clearly a Band-Aid. It doesn't solve the underlying problem and it's very frustrating. I know the European Union has its hands full with Ukraine and I know that's why it wants to try to do something or to give the impression of a move for Serbia and Kosovo. But is this really the best we can get after 15 years? 10 years ago the Brussels agreement was much more advanced. This offers nothing as far as I can see. And I think that to reach an agreement pressure will be necessary undoubtedly," Kerr-Lindsay said.