Milivojevic: Negotiations failed, now it all depends on Pristina's sponsors – Washington and Brussels

Former diplomat Zoran Milivojevic assesses for Kosovo Online that negotiations are at a standstill due to Pristina's unilateral decisions and that the dialogue can only be unblocked if Washington and Brussels decide to do so.

"While there is no political will and no concrete actions, it is pointless to talk about any kind of dialogue," Milivojevic says.

He sees the key reason in Pristina's exclusivity, which, as he notes, does not give any signal or show any willingness to continue the dialogue.

"There are no negotiations because the Pristina side is exclusive. It does not give any signal or show any kind of willingness to continue the dialogue. Second, it implements measures that not only distance us from the dialogue but also close the possibility of any kind of dialogue. These are two elements that lead me to the conclusion that the negotiations have failed. And this is true now; we are still in the same situation. Now everything depends on the sponsors of the Pristina side, the centers of power in Washington and Brussels. They also do not show signs that there could be a breakthrough. There are no prospects for measures and actions to prevent what Kurti is doing, which is the expulsion of Serbia and the persecution of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. This is still ongoing," Milivojevic believes.

According to him, the crucial question that remains open is the full implementation of the agreements signed in Brussels in 2013 and 2015, and within that, the question of all questions – the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities.

However, Milivojevic believes that Albin Kurti, through unilateral moves, is trying to obstruct the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities.

"The formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities is the question of all questions. Now we see that if we had the CSM, we would not have had this escalation, and we would not have had the situation we have because these matters are practically under the jurisdiction of the CSM. My impression is that Kurti is obstructing the Community of Serb Municipalities in this way, indicating that he has no intention of forming it. In such a situation, this question remains central for the next meeting of any kind. Not counting what is related to the dinar and seeking a solution for this people down there to start living normally," Milivojevic says.

He believes that Pristina's unilateral moves are the main reason why the dialogue is at a standstill.

"They start from maximalist positions. Kurti firmly maintains that only recognition can be discussed. He insists on signing the Ohrid Agreement, which is unacceptable to Serbia, and in such circumstances, there are no negotiations. You know, negotiations always require two sides. As far as Serbia is concerned, it is open to dialogue, it will respond to every call for dialogue, but dialogue implies fulfilling previously undertaken obligations, putting the Community of Serb Municipalities on the table, and, secondly, preventing measures and actions that jeopardize the survival of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija," Milivojevic concludes.

He assesses that the invitation to the main negotiators from Belgrade and Pristina is an attempt by EU Special Representative for the Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak to save the EU's reputation but also to prevent a possible escalation of conflict in Kosovo.

"This is an attempt by the European Union, or Miroslav Lajcak, to somehow return to the dialogue as much as possible, considering the obstruction by Pristina and their behavior the last time he convened a meeting, and then their insistence on measures and actions that they implement regardless of the objections coming from Washington and Brussels and regardless of the mediator's attempts to continue the dialogue," Milivojevic says.

He emphasizes that the key reason for Lajcak and the EU is to bring the parties back to dialogue to prevent a possible new escalation of conflict.

"This is an attempt to somehow return to the dialogue and, what is even more important, an attempt by the mediator of the European Union to prevent a wider escalation that is looming, considering the measures and actions related to the dinar and what is happening to the Serbian people on the ground," Milivojevic believes.

However, he is not sure how much such a meeting will contribute to the progress of the dialogue.

"The impression is that the Pristina side will not change its position, that Kurti is determined in implementing policies regarding the dinar and everything else. We see this through the latest arrests and through the constant repression. There are no reactions to what is happening to the Serbian people on the ground. They do not have the opportunity for a normal life, the functioning of institutions: health care, education, etc. I do not expect any change. Everything still depends on how Washington and Brussels will behave," Milivojevic states.

He adds that the upcoming elections for the European Parliament should not be overlooked.

Therefore, he says, Lajcak is trying to save the reputation of the main mediator in the negotiations, that is, the European Union.

"This should be kept in mind before the upcoming elections in the EU, saving the reputation of the main mediator, the European Union, given that all the last meetings have been unsuccessful, and they practically end their term unsuccessfully. That is the key thing," Milivojevic says.