Milenkovic: Kosovo loses internationally by stalling dialogue, but the price is paid by the Serbs

Marko Milenkovic from the NGO "New Social Initiative" states that the delay in the Brussels dialogue harms Kosovo on the international stage, while Serbia is losing the mechanisms it once had on this territory. Despite the lack of concrete results, he tells Kosovo Online, the international community is attempting to maintain the appearance of dialogue, which most significantly impacts the Serbs in Kosovo.

"Kosovo loses internationally in terms of advancing its standing, particularly regarding recognition and membership in international organizations, while Serbia is losing mechanisms it has on Kosovo, which is evident. Serbia’s institutional and even extra-institutional activities and mechanisms on the ground are gradually diminishing," Milenkovic explains.

On the other hand, he says, Kosovo is gaining on the domestic front and in terms of sovereignty.

"The Self-Determination Movement and Albin Kurti’s government are trying to establish sovereignty in northern Kosovo and eliminate Serbia’s influence on the Serbian community, thereby addressing some internal issues that Self-Determination believes could be problematic," he explains.

Serbia, he adds, is using this situation to build better relations with the international community by portraying the Kosovo side as uncooperative in the dialogue.

"I think Serbia currently lacks specific reasons to actively engage in the dialogue because there is nothing to gain. I believe there is an opinion within the government in Belgrade that with some geopolitical changes over time, a new distribution of roles might emerge, potentially shifting the international community's policy on Kosovo and strengthening Serbia's position. This could lead to a different distribution of roles in addressing the Kosovo issue," Milenkovic suggests.

He notes that the international community is attempting to uphold the illusion of an active dialogue, even though there are no substantive results.

"But it seems that, at this point, the EU is relatively satisfied with this level of dialogue, as it keeps peace within its own borders. I think the EU needs to exert greater influence to revive and reinvigorate the dialogue, primarily through applying pressure or offering incentives to the participants," he states.

He explains that the EU is content because there are no major escalations on the ground.

"That is the red line they are holding at this moment. Whether the dialogue will be constructive, or whether the Serbian or other communities will be threatened, doesn’t seem to matter to them right now," Milenkovic emphasizes.

He underlines that the Serbian community is suffering the most as a result of all this.

"The Serbian community is extremely vulnerable, primarily due to the lack of results in the dialogue and solutions at a local level, as well as the lack of political will to resolve certain issues. Some issues are even being exploited in the dialogue, with unilateral steps taken that complicate and worsen life for people on the ground," Milenkovic concludes.