Mitic: The meeting in Skopje, besides the EU growth plan for the region, also aimed to pressure the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue

Aleksandar Mitic, a research associate at the Institute of International Politics and Economics, tells Kosovo Online that the leaders' meeting in Skopje, attended by Assistant US Secretary of State James O'Brien, was more than just a discussion on the EU plan for the growth of the Western Balkans and that O'Brien's presence was solely for exerting pressure regarding the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

"It is clear that the meeting in Skopje was more than just a gathering dedicated to the EU growth plan. It was another meeting where the direct focus was on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue process. The use of funds from this plan, especially for Belgrade, will depend on the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement," Mitic says.

He adds that this is another instrument of pressure on Belgrade and potentially dangerous for that reason.

"This is a financial carrot, but potentially also a stick. Due to the conditioning and the fact that if Belgrade does not use these funds, other countries will, as the funds are intended for all states in the region, including Kosovo, even though it is not a state. It is clear that this represents, once again, a new form of pressure on Belgrade to accept and implement elements of the Franco-German plan for relinquishing Kosovo, which, I would say, is quite unacceptable. I fear that we must not fall into the trap of viewing this entire EU growth plan process as separate from the pressures on Belgrade regarding Kosovo," Mitic says.

He emphasizes that James O'Brien's presence was solely for exerting pressure regarding the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, to some extent, considering that the EU is the one offering the carrot.

"O'Brien essentially held the stick under his coat, and the fact is that this is not the first time that the US and officials from the US State Department have appeared at meetings solely related to regional integrations and relations with the EU. It is clear that O'Brien was primarily here to exert pressure on Belgrade and, to a lesser extent, on Pristina," he says.

When asked if Kurti's call to separate Kosovo's European integration from the normalization of relations with Serbia signals that he will continue to block the dialogue, Mitic says his policy is clear.

"He is trying to pressure Belgrade by provoking various hybrid crises and pressing the Serbian population in Kosovo, putting Belgrade in a constant defensive position. Later, through alleged compromises, he aims to gradually gain what he wants – the legalization and legitimization of his policies, primarily in northern Kosovo," Mitic adds.