BELGRADE — Serbia’s “engagement on the European path, strong ties with Moscow and experience in regional conflicts” are all advantages it will have as OSCE chair.
He recalled that Serbia’s predecessor at the helm of the organization, Switzerland, as a neutral country “positioned itself between the two sides and tried to mediate a solution.”
“It is certainly not easy because then you get complaints from right and left. But space for some kind of contribution is created in this way,” said the Italian diplomat.
Serbia, which on January 1 assumes the presidency of the OSCE, in his opinion, is equally suitable because it is “very engaged on the European road with traditionally strong ties with Moscow, which enables it to be an honest broker.”
“Of course, Serbia itself has experience with regional conflicts and their consequences. The country has had to learn some bitter lessons that can now be applied in a different context,” remarked Zannier, who is a former head of the UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK.
He said that chairmanship of the OSCE “carries an important role of political leadership in such an organization, and is a good opportunity, especially in situations of polarization like the current one, to act as a trusted mediator and to solve immediate problems.”
Asked whether he expects Serbia “to take advantage” of its position in the OSCE in order to “thematize the problem of Kosovo,” Zannier “acknowledged that as the presiding country was being selected there were concerns about its role in the region, especially in relations with Pristina,” the German broadcaster said.
“I think the misgivings were removed when Serbia and Switzerland agreed to somehow act in tandem and divide competences among themselves,” he said.
Zannier added that the Swiss will continue to, even during the Serbian presidency, “deal on a high diplomatic level with the Western Balkans and OSCE missions in the area, which will allow Serbia to distance itself from regional problems and facilitate cooperation between the countries of the region with Belgrade.”
Speaking about the situation in Ukraine, he said that despite numerous violations of the ceasefire there have been improvements in the field, and that the political process and the role of the Contact Group was of key importance for the OSCE, while “it is up to the main actors to contribute to deescalation.”
He, however, warned that the problem could “remain open” for a long time.
Zannier also “aadmitted that it will not be easy to solve the issue of Crimea since it is unlikely Moscow will return it, or that Kiev will agree to the annexation,” said Deutsche Welle.
Commenting on the western sanctions against Russia, he said that such measures are not part of the policy of the OSCE and are not discussed, “but they certainly reinforce divisions within the OSCE.”
