Victor Ponta again announced that Bucharest will reconsider its attitude towards Pristina. But Romanian Prime Minister who lost the elections and against whom is initiated a criminal investigation for corruption claims that he did not say he would recognize Kosovo, as reported by the Pristina media.
It is questionable whether Ponta and new president of Romania will have the opportunity to make, as stated, a new assessment of changes in Kosovo since 2008, since Klaus Iohannis requested from Ponta to resign.
Regardless of whether Ponta will politically survive, given the allegations of being involved in counterfeiting, money laundering, conflict of interest and tax evasion, this is not the first time that position towards Kosovo is mentioned. In the autumn 2013, in Washington, Ponta indicated that in 2015 Romania could recognize Kosovo. Also, Emilian Pavel, who is the Romanian ambassador and president of the group “Friends of Serbia” in the European Parliament, said that Romania needs to align with the EU over Kosovo, pointing out to the Brussels agreement.
Hence, the question arises how the steps which Belgrade made in the dialogue with Pristina affect the position of five EU countries that have not recognized Kosovo. Also, which Serbian move could be particularly risky; whether it is opening the first chapters in the negotiations (which will also be the confirmation that Belgrade implemented what was agreed in the dialogue), or perhaps, the signature on the agreement on normalization of relations, before the EU membership?
Serbia cannot do much to influence the decision of the countries that have not recognized Kosovo, analysts say. Non-recognition of Kosovo’s independence is the result of political interests of these countries.
Dusan Proroković, executive director of the Centre for Strategic Initiatives and former Secretary of State in the Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija, emphasized that the decision by the remaining EU countries that have not recognized Kosovo do not depend of Serbia, but “of their internal dynamics and some things that will happen at the international level.”
Serbia, he says, has already contributed to the fact that some countries “reconsider” the recognition of Kosovo. “The beginning of the process of normalizing relations with Pristina was the signal for it. Then were heard first indications – from Slovakia and Romania to Greece,” recalls Proroković.
He also believes that recent Romanian announcements are not connected with the Brussels talks. From the diplomatic circles could be heard that Germany is conditioning accepting Romania into the Schengen zone by the recognition of Kosovo’s independence. Proroković also recalls that Ponta is outgoing prime minister. “He has lost political legitimacy, relies on a pro-American card and is ready to fulfil every requirement of America – from the tightening of relations with Russia to the recognition of Kosovo just to stay longer on the position of prime minister,” says Proroković. However the Romanian public opinion is not equal to Ponta’s opinion, because Romanians have huge problem with Transylvania, which motivates them to be against the recognition of Kosovo.
And Aleksandra Joksimovic, director of the Centre for Foreign Policy, believes that the position of the five EU countries does not depend on what Serbia is doing, but rather their own interests. “Belgrade signed an agreement on normalization of relations with Kosovo two years ago, and nothing has happened.” She said that there are different reasons why these countries do not recognize Kosovo. “Spain, for instance, has a direct interest not to recognize Kosovo because of Catalonia. Romania is careful because of Moldova. There are countries which say they would recognize Kosovo, if Serbia would do it – for example, Cyprus and Spain. It is not that these countries do not recognize Kosovo only because they have friendly feelings towards Serbia, but because they are protecting their interests. We can say that only Slovakia is more or less, refusing to recognize Kosovo, because of friendly relations with Serbia,” concluded Joksimovic.
Proroković is confident that signing of the announced binding agreement on normalizing relations would “open the door that even Russia and China recognize Kosovo, let alone members of the EU.” “If we sign the agreement, then the fate of Kosovo will be identical to the fate of the GDR. So, they will become UN member and we will stand on the side, silent. We will not formally recognize it, but we will open the door for all other countries to recognize Kosovo,” he said.
