On Wednesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Berlin. The topic is the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. It was known until now, but Scholz openly said for the first time that there is no end to the dialogue and resolution of the frozen conflict without mutual recognition of the two countries. It is obvious that Germany is interested in speeding up that process, especially in light of the new security structure in Europe due to the war in Ukraine.
"Without ending the dialogue, there is no stability in the region, and no progress on the road to European integration," said the German chancellor, who assessed that "the countries of the Western Balkans have a place in the European Union" and added that "this is not an empty promise or a platitude."
Using the example of a stick and a carrot, Scholz explained that the carrot, that is, the reward, will be the normalization of relations, which will affect the well-being of the younger population in particular, while the stick for Serbia may be the fact that it will be required to recognize Kosovo's independence.
He mentioned the "Serbian recognition of Kosovo" in the conversation with Kurti, but during the conversation with Vučić he did not say it directly, but spoke of a "comprehensive agreement", the achievement of which will require "a lot of courage and determination".
Kurti said after the meeting that recognition should be "at the center of the process", and not at its end, and that Kosovo is "proactive and constructive" in the dialogue, and that it strives to achieve concrete results and full cooperation.
Vučić expressed his gratitude that Solz once again reiterated that Serbia, as a country of the Western Balkans, has a place in the EU, but when asked whether Serbia will leave the Council of Europe, if Kosovo becomes a member, he refused to state unequivocally, saying "for us it is it is important that everything that is written and signed is implemented".
FM/DW/
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