Mijacic: Albin Kurti does not accept Kosovo's obligations from 2013, he wants history to begin with him

The European proposal from February 27 of this year, originally called the "Agreement on the Path to Normalization between Kosovo and Serbia," is referred to by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in his statements as the "basic agreement," and Coordinator of the Working Group of the National Convention on the European Union for Chapter 35, Dragisa Mijacic, believes that Kurti deliberately uses this play on words because he wants history to begin with him and with what he has been involved in, which are the agreements from this year.

"In my opinion, Kurti calls it the 'basic agreement' because he, to some extent, does not accept previously undertaken commitments and wants to convey that this agreement is fundamental to him, the first in a series that he should implement, not accepting the obligations from the Brussels Agreement of 2013 and 2015, as well as from the technical agreements that were previously undertaken by the Kosovo Government," Mijacic says for Kosovo Online.

He adds that the term "basic agreement" can also be heard in European diplomatic circles that are not specifically concerned with the relationship between Serbia and Kosovo because they associate it with the Basic Agreement between the two Germanies from the late 1970s.

"It's a play on words because this agreement from February and March is modeled after the agreement between the two Germanies, which is also called the Basic Agreement. So, in some diplomatic circles not so involved with the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, you can hear them call it a basic agreement, considering it is very similar to the agreement between the two Germanies from the 1970s," Mijacic noted.

However, he believes that Kurti also wants history to start with him and with what he has been involved in, which is the agreement reached in Brussels in February of this year. According to Mijacic, this agreement entails significant concessions from Belgrade that favor Pristina and are pleasing to Kurti's ears, which is why he considers it the starting point for everything that will follow.

"On the other hand, let's be honest, this agreement grants significant concessions from Serbia – accepting Kosovo's international subjectivity, acknowledging that Kosovo can join international organizations, and it truly provides great latitude in Serbia's relationship with Kosovo. So, in a way, it pleases his ear, and that's why he calls it basic or foundational for everything that will follow," Mijacic concluded.