Vuletic: The US is interested in the stability of the region, while the Germans seek to minimize Serbia's importance in the Balkans

Sociologist Vladimir Vuletic says that despite differing views in America and Germany regarding the conditions Kosovo needs to fulfill to become a member of the Council of Europe, there are not two Western policies on this issue. Instead, the goal is the same: to consolidate Kosovo as a fully-fledged state, which includes admission to all international organizations.

"Where there is a difference is that Americans have a more pragmatic approach and a broader perspective; their primary concern is the stability of the region. They believe that some form of compromise is necessary, which, from their perspective, does not entail any dilemmas regarding what is crucial, namely, Kosovo's independence. However, any compromise would involve a certain degree of autonomy for the Serbs, meaning the CSM. Therefore, they do not want to risk any internal resistance from the Serbs or open up the Serbian issue further in such an international situation. On the other hand, Germans have an approach that aims to minimize Serbia's power, significance, and role in the Balkans. That is the main difference," Vuletic points out for Kosovo Online.

Regarding the statement of Michael Roth, the President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the German Bundestag, that the "additional conditions that the US imposes on Kosovo for entry into the Council of Europe are unfair" and that such a US approach to Kosovo must stop, Vuletic notes that with this kind of stance, which "contradicts" the American position, one should not exclude the possibility of other personal motives.

"However, this is something we do not know, and it makes no sense to comment on. What we can observe is the policy of the German Government towards Serbia, which allegedly has a stricter approach. That is the fundamental difference between American and German policies," Vuletic says.