In an interview with Deutsche Welle, the European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn said that the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia will soon resume but added that what will be achieved at the end of it will not be received with applause in their countries.
“Bravery and courage are required from acting leaders to sit down at a table and draft a compromise which will require concessions from both sides to come to a final result,” Hahn said.
Asked about the role the U.S. should have in the process, Hahn said: “There is a clear international agreement that on how these negotiations should take place. Of course it is good if we have support also from important actors and when the international community is united. The U.S. is important as a supporter but the current structure of negotiations, under the leadership of the High Representative, currently Federica Mogherini, is sufficient.”
To the question of whether he still views the change of borders in the Balkans as a possible solution for Kosovo-Serbia normalisation of relations Hahn said that what he has said in the past on the subject is that the option should not be tabooed. “I explained immediately that that the solution at the end of the day should not be at the expense of others. It is now too early to speak about solutions at consideration, because the agreement that will be reached between the two countries will be comprehensive. A central part in the agreement will include the issue of minorities because there are many Serbs in the whole territory of Kosovo and not a certain area of Kosovo. This will also be the case in the future. So, the agreement will include many parts of a puzzle which we hope together will give a very beautiful landscape,” he said.
