Swoboda: EU should clearly tell Kurti that the CSM must be formed

Hannes Swoboda, President of the Vienna Institute for Economic Studies and President of the International Institute for Peace, stated that all disputes and conflicts worldwide, including the one between Israel and Palestine, could have an impact on the situation in Kosovo. That's why, as he emphasized, the EU must unanimously insist that Belgrade and Pristina proceed with the implementation of the agreements reached, including the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities.

"All ongoing conflicts and disputes, at some point, will start bleeding again, and it's the same with Kosovo. That's why all agreements must be implemented. That's why the EU should insist, with one voice, including the formation of the CSM," Swoboda told Kosovo Online.

When asked if there's a way forward in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, our interlocutor says there is, but the EU must insist that it happens immediately.

He warns that after a terrorist attack in Israel and the ensuing conflict, the Kosovo issue might be sidelined.

"That's why we can't allow time to pass; we must act now in case the conflict erupts again," Swoboda emphasized.

He assesses that at some point, there were certain changes and delays in the negotiation process concerning the Community of Serb Municipalities, saying that the Constitutional Court of Kosovo introduced certain changes, but the basic element remained the same: it must be formed by the Kosovo Government, and that this is a message that the EU must clearly convey to Kurti.

Swoboda emphasizes that resolving the dispute between Kosovo and Serbia depends solely on the prime ministers participating in the dialogue and the European Commission, not the intermediaries.

"I'm neither criticizing nor praising Borrell and Lajcak; the resolution of this dispute depends on the governments involved in the dialogue and the European Commission. Regarding the European Commission, they've submitted their reports to the heads of state of the EU member countries, and they were very clear that now is not the time for discussions and disputes but for the implementation of agreements," he stated.

First, as he says, both sides need to commit to implementing the agreements reached, and then we can have an agreement that both sides will sign because when you have an agreement that isn't signed, it's just a piece of paper.

"I understand the Serbian side that the CSM is a crucial issue, and Kurti must react in that regard, but Serbia must also act in accordance with the agreements," Swoboda concluded.