Milenkovic: Self-Determination contaminated the topic of the CSM

Marko Milenkovic from the NGO "New Social Initiative" told Kosovo Online that during its mandate, Self-Determination contaminated and misused the topic of the Community of Serb Municipalities, portraying it as a matter concerning the security of citizens, as a very negative thing for Kosovo and sovereignty. Because of this, it will be very difficult for any political option that comes to power after the elections to address the issue of the CSM and present it in a different light.

"In the campaign, we don’t see much focus on the dialogue and the Community of Serb Municipalities either from the opposition or from Self-Determination, because it's a topic on which they can only lose points with the electorate," Milenkovic assesses.

And in public opinion in Kosovo, the CSM is currently seen as a very negative thing.

"Because of this, it will be very difficult for any political option that comes to power to address this issue and present it in a different light and spirit, especially considering that there will likely be an opposition that will use this as a means to criticize the government. Several factors will probably be considered, including the international community's stance on this issue, but also the strength of the government that will be formed in Pristina, as such a question will likely require a larger coalition both in power and socially," Milenkovic states.

He points out that during the campaign, the party of Ramush Haradinaj specified something regarding the CSM, saying that the draft statute of the CSM should be sent to the Constitutional Court for assessment, but with the goal of improving relations with the international community.

The entire opposition, as he observes, has historically had better relations with the international community than Self-Determination, which is why in the event of an opposition victory in the elections, he expects greater cooperation with the international community that would result in new agreements and the implementation of what has been agreed, but despite this, he does not expect any party to have the CSM as a priority in its program.