Surlic: Dialogue clinically dead; Pristina does not fulfill obligations, it is threatened with visa liberalization suspension

Stefan Surlic, an associate professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, stated that the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina was clinically dead at the moment and that Miroslav Lajcak, as a mediator, was attempting once again to revive the dialogue with a new round of negotiations, as reported by RTS.

Surlic noted that currently, we could see that the Franco-German proposal and the Ohrid annex were not being implemented.

"Even the three-point plan for de-escalating the situation in northern Kosovo is not fully implemented. The European Union had threatened severe sanctions, but we can see that these sanctions were stopped at a symbolic level toward Pristina. Of course, this raises questions about the credibility of the mediator and the European Union," Surlic said, continuing:

"As long as this process continues, agreements are reached, and there are no sanctions for either side's failure to fulfill the points of the agreement, we cannot talk about any success in the process itself."

When the French President announced the issue of sanctions, he stated that both Belgrade and Pristina would face new measures if they did not find suitable solutions and if they did not behave responsibly, that was where suspending visa liberalization was mentioned.

Surlic noted that there was a recurring tendency to equate the two sides, which he considered to be a mistaken policy. He believes it should be emphasized that, currently, it is Pristina that is not fulfilling its obligations and that Pristina faces the threat of visa liberalization suspension, which was set to begin next year.

He pointed out that the fundamental demand, the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities, has not been fulfilled.

"Of course, there are very challenging conditions ahead for Belgrade in fulfilling the agreement's points. However, what we have agreed upon is that the Community of Serb Municipalities, a normal life for Serbs in Kosovo, and substantial autonomy, is crucial for their survival in the territory of Kosovo. This is something that should not be subject to calculations, and it deserves more consideration and respect from the highest European authorities, including Macron," Surlic concluded.