Spahiu: Strategic dialogue with the US will begin once Kosovo establishes the CSM

Political analyst Nexhmedin Spahiu says that when the US State Department states that the launch of strategic dialogue with Kosovo also depends on Kosovo fulfilling its obligations towards Kosovo Serbs, this means establishing the Community of Serb Municipalities.

Spahiu says this is an obligation arising from the agreement reached in Brussels between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

"The agreement means that Kosovo must establish the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities as a form of autonomy for Serbs in Kosovo, while Belgrade is obliged to allow the opening of permanent diplomatic missions for Kosovo in Belgrade and for Serbia in Pristina, which is in Pristina's interest. The United States is putting pressure on both sides to fulfil this obligation, and it is up to Pristina to establish the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. Once this is achieved, I believe America's approach will become more concrete and strategic dialogue will begin," Spahiu told Kosovo Online.

He believes that the Kosovo government will work towards launching strategic dialogue with the United States.

"Kurti even offered Vucic, at a United Nations Security Council session, to sign what they had agreed on. The reason Kurti is not fulfilling his obligations is that he fears that if he fulfils his part, Belgrade will not fulfil its own, which would then lead to new negotiations. He is interested in implementing the agreement as it was reached in Brussels. That is why several years have passed since the agreement was reached without it being implemented," Spahiu believes.