PRISTINA, Jan 14 /ATA/ Peter Sorensen, the European Union’s Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, is in Pristina on Wednesday for meetings with the country’s leaders, before visiting Serbia in an effort to make progress on normalizing relations between the two neighboring countries.
Sorensen first met with the acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, at the Government of Kosovo seat early in the morning.
Later, he was received by the country’s President, Vjosa Osmani, at her office.
No media statements have been announced following the meetings.
Sorensen is scheduled to meet with the Kosovo opposition later.
After his meetings in Pristina, Sorensen will travel to Belgrade for discussions with Serbia’s leaders.
His visit to Kosovo comes as the country awaits the establishment of new state institutions following the snap parliamentary elections on December 28, which were overwhelmingly won by Albin Kurti’s Vetëvendosje Movement.
This will be his first visit since his mandate was extended for an additional two years as the special envoy for the dialogue on normalizing relations between the two neighboring countries.
During his first mandate, he held just two meetings at the chief negotiator level, neither of which resulted in meaningful progress.
The ongoing deadlock in the dialogue process was largely attributed to internal political developments in Kosovo and Serbia, rather than lack of effective engagement by European mediator.
There are few in Brussels who believe that Kosovo and Serbia will be willing to engage in dialogue anytime soon to normalize their relations.
It is expected that Kaja Kallas, who has not yet facilitated any high-level political dialogue, will try to make headway in the Western Balkans following a difficult start to her tenure as the EU’s chief diplomat.
Given that Brussels has often been sidelined on issues such as the peace talks in Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza, and the situation in Iran, EU officials jokingly remark that reaching an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia could be the “easiest win” the bloc could secure at this time.
Although Kosovo and Serbia signed the Ohrid Agreement in 2023, which sets out the roadmap for normalization, they have yet to implement it.
Although the agreement has not been signed, the European Union insists that it is binding for both parties.
This 11-article agreement includes provisions for a degree of self-administration for the Serb community in Kosovo, mutual recognition of state symbols, Serbia’s commitment not to block Kosovo’s membership in international organizations, and requires both Pristina and Belgrade to implement all previous agreements reached during the 15-year-long dialogue. /rel/sm/
