Novakovic: Kurti imposes topics in the dialogue by constantly causing crisis situations

Igor Novakovic from the Center for International and Security Affairs assesses that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti constantly imposes topics in the dialogue by continually causing crisis situations that must then be addressed within that process. He expresses concern that due to this, the Community of Serb Municipalities will not be put on the agenda in the dialogue, and perhaps not even until Kurti confirms his dominance in the parliamentary elections, and maybe, as he says, not even then.

Novakovic notes that after the conflict in Banjska, the West cannot adequately impose priorities on Kurti in the dialogue and accelerate the process of forming the CSM.

"Kurti does this all the time, but now he has much more leeway after what happened in Banjska because it is very difficult for the West to say, 'Sorry, there are certain priorities in the dialogue.' It is very obvious that Pristina constantly draws attention to this issue, while on the other hand, Belgrade, at least from their perspective, has not offered adequate responses to what happened in Banjska," Novakovic said for Kosovo Online.

He assesses that the issue of forming the CSM will not come to the table quickly.

"It seems to me that the goal is for it not to come on the agenda at all, at least not before the elections in Kosovo, until Kurti confirms his dominance, but the question is if it will even then," Novakovic noted.

He reminds that after the Brussels Agreement, the CSM was supposed to be implemented within six months, but it was not precisely because of protests organized by Kurti. He warns that it is possible that the issue of the CSM may never be fully resolved.

"This is nothing new, and I think that this issue will never be fully implemented, and it is very likely that we will move toward some alternative solutions or some kind of further frozen conflict," Novakovic concluded.