Surlic: Pristina is obstructing the Dialogue, “Presevo Valley” has never been an accepted topic in Brussels

Stefan Surlic, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, told Kosovo Online that from the latest round of dialogue in Brussels—hosted for the first time by Peter Sorensen as the EU representative for the Belgrade–Pristina dialogue—it was clear that Pristina’s intention is to obstruct the process. He stressed that the current government in Pristina lacks the legitimacy to make any decisions that could be seen as major political concessions in the normalization process.

“This interim period is being used to promote topics for internal political purposes, such as the recurring ‘card’—the ‘Presevo Valley’ and the status of Albanians in southern Serbia—even though that has never been a topic within the normalization process, nor has it ever been accepted by Brussels, nor raised as a problematic issue requiring discussion. The key issue remains the status of the Serbian community and the formation of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities (ASM). Even Sorensen himself avoids this topic, knowing that the political climate is unfavorable both in Pristina and Belgrade to discuss any significant breakthroughs,” Surlic emphasized.

He added that, given the current circumstances, one of the topics Sorensen will likely push forward is the economy and free trade, since currently only one border crossing—Merdare—is available for the transit of Serbian goods.

“The economy is severely impacted, and I believe that will be one of Sorensen’s key focus areas. Additionally, this requires very minor concessions and minimal political will, and achieving freedom of movement—at least for goods—can be presented as a major success,” Surlic noted.

Commenting on the criticism in Pristina questioning Besnik Bislimi’s legitimacy to represent the Kosovo side in the dialogue, Surlic stated that he believes Bislimi lacks not only the authority and capacity but also the legitimacy to make any significant decisions in the normalization process.

He added that the government in Pristina is operating in a caretaker capacity, which is why he sees no room or interest—especially from the Self-Determination Movement—to advance anything within the normalization framework.

“On the contrary, it suits them to stick firmly to their stance of exercising sovereignty in the north, using violent measures to demonstrate and prove daily how they are ‘fighting for sovereignty.’ Normalization of relations is not even on the table for opposition parties, should they succeed in forming a government in the future. It's still portrayed as something imposed by the European Union, unnecessary, and something that, unfortunately, must involve painful concessions to Belgrade,” Surlic stated.

Despite the prolonged stagnation in the normalization process, Surlic emphasized the need for a completely new framework, given that the situation on the ground has regressed.

“We can no longer talk about ideal conditions for forming the ASM without addressing the broader framework of human rights. This must be the core issue that Belgrade insists on—human rights in the context of frequent sexual assaults and harassment in northern Kosovo, arbitrary arrests, politically motivated trials, long-term imprisonments, excessive use of police force and daily abuse, all of which are driving mass departures. These must be priority issues—before even the ASM. What we’re talking about here is defending the basic human rights of the Serbian community in Kosovo, and that must be presented to both Kaja Kallas and Peter Sorensen as the foundation for a new round of dialogue focused on fundamental human rights,” Surlic concluded.

As a reminder, Sorensen met yesterday with Pristina’s chief negotiator Besnik Bislimi and today with Belgrade’s chief negotiator Petar Petkovic.