Milivojevic: For de-escalation, it is necessary to return to the original state; the CSM is the most important condition

Former diplomat Zoran Milivojevic says that only the complete withdrawal of all police, Special and other forces, the complete withdrawal of illegitimate mayors, and a return to the original state will lead to de-escalation in the north of Kosovo, stating that the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities is the most important condition, RTS reports.

Milivojevic states that it seems to him that this is a tactical move by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to remove the danger of pressure from the West.

Milivojevic adds that it is good to hear the German envoy Manuel Sarrazin talking about the CSM.

"The only way to de-escalate is the complete withdrawal of all police, Special and other forces, the complete withdrawal of illegitimate mayors, and a return to the original state. At least what was good for me to hear from Sarrazin is that he mentions the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. That is the most important condition," Milivojevic said.

According to him, essential de-escalation is only possible if the demands of the Serbs and the need for the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities are on the daily agenda.

A meeting of the main negotiators in Brussels was announced for next week; Miloslav Lajcak invited Petar Petkovic and Besnik Bislimi to discuss the implementation of the normalization agreement.

"De-escalation is the first issue because it is a direct threat to peace and stability in this region and to the normal life and survival of the Serbs. Therefore, de-escalation requires a return to the original state," Milivojevic stressed.

When it comes to the essential dialogue and what should be on the agenda, he says that those are obligations from the previous period, namely the Brussels Agreement and the CSM.

"The issue of the framework agreement is a different topic at the moment. It is not a condition for de-escalation. The condition for essential de-escalation is what the Serbs are asking for, therefore, the complete withdrawal of all forces, the abandonment of attempts to impose power in the north of Kosovo and Metohija by force, the release of these "Serbs who are completely illegally and illegitimately in prisons and the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities to be on the agenda. This is a condition for de-escalation and a condition, if you will, for the essential continuation of the dialogue in the future," Milivojevic said.

As he stated, Kurti's actions and measures were tolerated.

"Now that Mr. Kurti has been in power for two years, we are witnessing that the measures and actions he takes are tolerated, which are not in line with what would be on the line of dialogue and normalization, and this simply leads to the conclusion that there is some understanding, for Mr. Kurti's policy and measures, and that there is some agreement related to the final goal, which is the confirmation of the recognition of Kosovo's statehood," Milivojevic said.

Regarding the announcement by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic that he has sent a request for a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Milivojevic says that if the meeting takes place, de-escalation and the protection of the Serbs in Kosovo should be discussed.

"The conversation with Stoltenberg should be for the purpose of de-escalation and protection of the Serbs. Because NATO is a basic component of KFOR. On the ground, we do not see that KFOR is functioning in accordance with the mandate. Therefore, the goal is in two domains. One is to remind of the KFOR obligations, where NATO is supporting, and that they fully respect their mandate, because they are there to protect peace and security and secondly to protect the Serbs who are under repression," Milivojevic noted.

He added that we should not forget Serbia's request for an urgent session of the United Nations Security Council, in accordance with Resolution 1244.

"Kosovo and Metohija, according to Resolution 1244, which is binding and the fact that KFOR and UNMIK exist there, is an on-call topic of the UN Security Council. A regular topic. KFOR and UNMIK exist there for the protection of peace and stability. Therefore, it is completely natural for the Security Council to discuss it and it must discuss it. That's why we have regular sessions twice a year; this is extraordinary because we have an escalation. All arguments in favor of an emergency session for the protection of peace are on the table and no one disputes that," Milivojevic said.