LOCAL PRESS

Brnabic: Serbia ready to normalize relations with Pristina (Beta)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic discussed with Deputy Chairman of the CDU/CSU faction in the German Bundestag Johann Wadephul Serbia’s progress towards EU membership and the current situation in the region. Brnabic stated that, despite the achieved success in implementing economic reforms, the Government of Serbia is committed to more intensive reform processes in key areas of the rule of law and justice, as well as in public administration and tax administration. Regarding the reform of the judiciary, she explained that the process of adopting the recommendations of the Venice Commission is underway, adding that she expects the entire work to be completed by the end of the year. Wadephul assessed that legal security and the continuation of judicial reform is an important step in achieving a lasting and sustainable economic stability, which is a prerequisite for the arrival of new investments to Serbia.

He underlined that Germany strongly supports Serbia’s European integration, and that Serbia has a reliable partner in Germany and support on its path to the EU. Brnabic pointed out that Serbia is ready to normalize relations with Pristina and to make a final solution that will ensure the stability and security of our citizens in Kosovo and Metohija, but that the fact that Pristina continues to avoid meeting its obligations which it had assumed under the Brussels Agreement is discouraging. Wadephul said that Germany remains firm in its position that implementation of agreements is more important than their adoption.

Vucic: Kosovo deal is crucial (Tanjug/B92)

Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic said in a meeting with delegation of German Bundestag that Serb-Albanian agreement was of crucial importance for both sides. Vucic talked with the Deputy Chairman of the CDU/CSU faction in the German parliament, Johann Wadephul and the group’s foreign affairs ​adviser Hans-Joachim Falenski about bilateral relationship, Serbia’s road to EU and the situation in the region. Wadephul, a member of the Bundestag, said he had great confidence in Serbia’s integration process, he applauded the readiness of Belgrade and Pristina to continue the dialogue, but he also emphasized Chancellor Merkel’s firm stance about being against changing borders. Vucic pointed out that Serbia had chosen to work on a compromise for Kosovo and Metohija, for the sake of peaceful future for both the country and the region, and which would, at the same time, protect state and national interests. Vucic said he was glad that Serbia and Germany had the best relations ever in history characterized by great mutual trust. This fact was mirrored in the significant development of economic cooperation and increase in German investments, noted Vucic. Vucic emphasized the importance of the Berlin process, initiated by Chancellor Merkel, for peace and stability in the Western Balkans, said the official statement by the Press Service of the President of the Republic of Serbia.

Dacic: Historical success achieved (RTS)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic has told the morning news of Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) that the Kosovo issue has now become a topic that is being discussed again. “That is one of the most tangible evidence as to how much we managed to change the nearly cemented position of some Western countries when it comes to Kosovo, because this topic was absolutely not a topic that had been discussed in the past period, it was simply thought that this issue has already been resolved, that a state was declared ten years ago that was recognized by these Western countries,” said Dacic. He says that ten years after that Kosovo has not managed to round off this independence and a large number of countries in the world has not recognized the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, as well as that a large number of countries is re-examining this position. “That means they are still, practically, at the very beginning, because there are five countries that didn’t recognize Kosovo in the EU, which means that eventual EU path of Pristina cannot even begin,” said Dacic. “This is really one historical turning point and historical success that I have defined that we are now eventually at some end of the beginning, the beginning of defining our positions, the dialogue is yet to be conducted and these possible solutions will be presented,” says Dacic. “We simply managed to change this position of the West that didn’t even wish to discuss this and every mentioning of this issue was grossly rejected. It is an historical success that we have reached a situation that this is at all discussed again, when we first started the Brussels dialogue Catherine Ashton told us to discuss technical topics, I proposed at the time when I was the prime minister to discuss the essential topic and now we are on this path. We are offered an historical opportunity to get something for our people and our citizens in Kosovo and Metohija, we, naturally, can also reject this opportunity, but let us not now pretend to be inapt – nobody is offering us for Kosovo and Metohija to remain integral within the borders of Serbia,” said Dacic. He says that we do not have support with all countries and that a big battle is yet to be waged. “We are working on this together, I can say that this is one historical contribution that will be remembered in the history of Serbia and the President of Serbia and, without being falsely modest, I have also worked together with him all these six years. We have managed to change, it is not about the fact that we are working on this, we have managed to change the position of the West, we have moved them for a dead end, and on the other side we remained firm friends with Russia and China,” claims Dacic. He says that there are no more obstacles from the international community to open the possibility for Belgrade and Pristina to agree. “It is up to us to pass the decision as to whether we will make this historical step, whether we will celebrate some victory of ours for the first time or whether we will constantly speak about some of our failures and defeats,” says Dacic. “This is about whether we will get something or whether we will lose everything. We are not holding anything in our hands and the same is with Pristina, the problem is that the reality and life in Kosovo is far beyond papers that are both Belgrade and Pristina and the international community holding in their hands,” said Dacic. He says that now the coming months are important and since we arrived, as he put it, to the end of the beginning, now starts the denouement on who has what proposals and whether it is possible to make a compromise on this, primarily Belgrade and Pristina. Asked what will be more difficult to receive, support from the international community or support inside the country and from citizens, Dacic says that both are difficult and demanding. “I think that both are very difficult and very demanding, but I am sure that the Serbian people will not miss the opportunity, because we need to look at the national program in the next 100 years,” concluded Dacic.

Dacic: Acceleration of Brussels dialogue (Tanjug/RTV)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic has stated that the following months, when it comes to the resolution of the problem of Kosovo and Metohija, are very important, that one can expect the acceleration of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue in Brussels, but that it is too early to say whether and when the end of the dialogue will be successful. “The most important message that could be heard after the meeting of Vucic and Thaci in Alpbach is that there is a will to discuss the searching of a lasting solution, as well as that there is the mood of other countries to accept what the sides agree upon,” said Dacic. He assessed that there has been a huge change and that an opportunity is being opened nevertheless to discuss the manner in which to reach a compromise. “This is just the beginning, or I could say, that this is some end of the beginning, when in fact now there is the drafting of all those ideas, nothing concrete has been discussed yet. President Vucic is taking part in that and other events that will be in the following months are very important,” said Dacic. He says that important visits of President Vucic to several countries are ahead of us, but also the arrival of foreign officials to Serbia, including Vucic’s visit to Paris where US President Donald Trump is expected. “All in all, the resumption of the dialogue in Brussels can be expected to be accelerated, whether and it is too early to speak whether and when the end of this dialogue will be successful, but these messages encourage. There are also messages that are not good, that represent some ‘autopilot’ of the old policy towards Serbia,” said Dacic.

Dacic said he did not believe there would be surprises concerning Serbia’s EU path at a meeting of foreign ministers in Vienna later this week. The meeting of the foreign ministers of EU member states and membership candidate countries, to be held in Vienna on Friday, 31 August, will be preceded by a reception hosted by the Austrian president Thursday, Dacic told reporters in Stara Pazova.

EC: Belgrade and Pristina are responsible for the content of the agreement (Tanjug)

The European Commission (EC) thinks that a space should be given to Belgrade and Pristina for reaching a consensus about the content of the comprehensive normalization agreement, EC spokesperson Maja Kocijancic told a press conference. EU, as a mediator, cannot comment on possible elements of the agreement, said Kocijancic, adding that intensive work with both sides continues. “They should be given a space for reaching a consensus about the content of the comprehensive normalization agreement. It is clear that we, as a mediator, cannot comment on possible elements of the agreement. We continue to work intensively with both sides on the comprehensive and sustainable agreement that would be supported by international community and fully implemented by both sides,” said Kocijancic.

Merkel and Trump discussed Western Balkans (Tanjug)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke to US President Donald Trump on the phone yesterday, one of the subjects being Western Balkans, said Steffe Seibert, press secretary of the Chancellor’s Office, reported Tanjug. They also discussed developments in Ukraine, Syria, as well as trade.

REGIONAL PRESS

B&H officials condemn attack on journalist (RTRS)

Two unknown men attacked a BN TV reporter Vladimir Kovacevic in Banja Luka on Sunday, while he was returning home from work. On Monday, Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik visited Kovacevic in hospital, wished him a quick recovery and promised to do everything in his power to find the men that attacked him. Dodik also offered Kovacevic and members of his family additional police protection, so that they would feel a bit safer. During a press conference on Monday, Dodik said that he visited Kovacevic in the hospital, but he did not want for that visit to be publicly followed, because he only wanted to see if Kovacevic was feeling well, not use this visit for further promotion. “I told him I was sorry that this happened to him. I denied any claims that this attack might have been orchestrated by anyone from the government and I am glad that he personally said that he understands that and does not believe the government had anything to do with this”, said Dodik. The leadership of the RS National Assembly (RSNA) also strongly condemned this act, reminding that freedom of media and freedom of speech are rooted at the base of any democratic state. Serb member of the B&H Presidency Mladen Ivanic called upon the competent authorities in the RS to conduct full investigation of this attack before numerous speculations about it create unnecessary tensions. Ivanic emphasized that all politicians and those linked in any way with upcoming elections need to restrain from everything that could be harmful for journalists’ struggle for their rights. “This is the only method to calm down tensions and assist journalists in defense and protection of their profession,” said Ivanic. Speaker of the RS parliament Nedeljko Cubrilovic condemned harshly the attack on Kovacevic. He reminded that freedom of media and expression is guaranteed by the Constitution and other laws in the RS. Cubrilovic requested competent institutions to identify perpetrators and discover their motives. The RS Government also stated that competent institutions are expected to resolve this case as soon as possible. The RS Ministry of Interior confirmed that they have been conducting all measures and activities aimed to solve this case. They condemned any type of violent behavior against journalists. SDS leader Vukota Govedarica strongly condemned the attack on Kovacevic and said that this was an attempt to kill him. SP RS leader Petar Djokic said that he expects competent institutions to process the perpetrators, adding that he was shocked with the news on the attack.

US Embassy to B&H, OSCE, OHR, EUD condemn attack on journalist (TV1)

The attack on BN TV journalist Vladimir Kovacevic, who was brutally beaten up on his way home from work in Banja Luka on Sunday evening, sparked a series of reactions on Monday. Namely, representatives of the international community (IC), journalists’ associations, and representatives of authorities condemned the attack and called for urgent discovery of perpetrators. The US Embassy, the OSCE Mission and the EU Delegation (EUD) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) condemned the attack. The US Embassy to B&H stated that it harshly condemns attacks on journalists as unacceptable. “We strongly defend the right of journalists to report the news without fear of reprisal. When journalists are silenced, society suffers”. The OSCE Mission to B&H underscored that it is necessary to put an end to negative rhetoric against media so that future attacks on journalists would be prevented. Head of the OSCE Mission to B&H Bruce Berton stated: “Freedom of media is the basis of democracy. We call on all relevant institutions to bring those who are responsible to justice, as soon as possible.” Berton noted that negative rhetoric is more noticeable in the election year in B&H and this makes journalists’ work more difficult. “As part of the preparation of the European Commission’s Opinion on the B&H application for the EU membership, the EU is, among other things, looking into how B&H institutions deal with hate speech, attacks, threats and incitement to violence both off-line and on-line,” reads the statement of the EUD. “The EU strongly condemns all threats and physical attacks against journalists and media freedom”, the EUD stated on Monday. The OHR strongly condemned the attack and urged competent institutions to conduct a thorough investigation into this “act of violence” in order to bring the perpetrators to justice. “Violence against anyone, including journalists, cannot be tolerated in any democratic society. Journalists have the right to work without fear. The society as a whole is judged by the environment they are working in,” reads OHR statement.

RS President Dodik demands info from B&H Presidency on decision to ban Russian writer Prilepin to enter B&H (ATV)

Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik sent a letter to members of B&H Presidency on Monday, demanding the information on decision-making process in the case of a ban that prevented Russian writer Zakhar Prilepin to enter B&H, as well as other persons who are listed as security threats for B&H. “The B&H Security-Intelligence Agency (OSA) is legally obliged to deliver the information to the Presidency related to serious threats for security of B&H. In this regard, I demand from you to inform me about reasons for such activities of security structures of B&H, in case of the ban to Russian writer Zakhar Prilepin to enter B&H”. Dodik emphasized that members of B&H Presidency know that joint institutions at the level of B&H in the area of security – the OSA and the Border Police of B&H – banned the famous Russian writer to enter B&H, who was supposed to attend a literary event within the manifestation ‘Kocicev zbor’, at the invitation of institutions of the RS. “This move inflicted harm not only on writer Zaharov, whose basic human rights and freedoms, freedom of movement and thought have been violated, but inflicted a huge harm on political credibility and reputation of the RS. Such actions by law enforcement agencies at the level of B&H, outside Parliament and every control, and against the interests of the RS, are inadmissible,” said Dodik. The Russian Embassy to B&H also requested an explanation of this incident from the B&H Ministry of Foreign Affairs but, so far, received no concrete answer.

B&H FM Crnadak sends memo to B&H Executive Intelligence Committee asking for information about ban on Prilepin’s entry into B&H (TV1)

B&H Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Crnadak sent a memo to the Executive Intelligence Committee of B&H on August 24, 2018, related to banning Russian writer Zakhar Prilepin from entering B&H. Crnadak requested from the Executive Intelligence Committee to provide all available information on the process of decision-making in the case of this ban and to answer if the decision was passed in line with the legislation of B&H.

In a written statement to TV1, B&H Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Mirko Sarovic, who is member of the Executive Intelligence Committee, confirmed that he has not received Crnadak’s request so far and explained that this committee has never dealt with operational things. Sarovic was quoted as saying that his stance towards any kind of ‘blacklists’ and bans is “entirely negative”, taking into account his “eight-year experience on the blacklists of the US, the EU, and countries in the region”. Sarovic reminded that he had also been put on the blacklist of B&H through a decision of the Council of Ministers (CoM) of B&H due to votes of RS’ representatives who are now harshly criticizing the bans on entry into B&H.

Meeting of Prime Ministers of Western Balkan states held in Durres (FTV)

An informal meeting of the Prime Ministers of Western Balkan countries was held in Durres, Albania. Chair of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) Council of Ministers Denis Zvizdic and Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic did not attend the meeting. B&H was attended by other senior officials. The main topic of the meeting was Euro-Atlantic integration. Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Johannes Hahn stated that sustaining rule of law and fighting corruption are not the only perquisites countries must fulfill in order to join the EU, but they must also develop friendly and cooperative relations with neighboring countries as well. He added that every country that strives to join the EU should focus on improving the job market and focus on achieving a regional economy in order to show the citizens of the Balkans that integrating into the EU will be of mutual benefit. Hahn reminded the Prime Ministers during the meeting that the EU will not accept countries that are hostile towards their neighbors.

Kurtz warns of influence over Western Balkans (Srna)

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz warned on Monday that the Western Balkans could fall under the influence of others if it does not become part of the European Union. “The truth is that a prospect of EU membership exists along with a possible stronger influence of Russia, Turkey or other parts of the world. Losing the region which is so close to us would be bad for the Western Balkans and for us in the EU,” the chancellor said. Austria holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council. Kurtz said that Austria is the EU member state which offers the greatest support to the region and denied that he spoke of the Western Balkans as a crisis region.

The Austrian chancellor expressed the belief in an evident rapprochement between Belgrade and Pristina which he said is a situation that should be used to find a solution.

Markovic: We must do everything to keep the young people on Western Balkans (CDM)

Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dusko Markovic, said that countries of Western Balkans must do everything to keep the young people on their territories. “We have to prevent brain drain from the region and we have to create conditions for those who went to come back. That means, we have to invest more in research and development. I am using this opportunity to remind you that Montenegro stands strongly behind the initiative for the formation of International Institute for Sustainable Technologies in the region of Southeastern Europe because we believe that this initiative can be precious for the region, for young people, creation of jobs” said Markovic.

At the informal meeting of Prime Ministers of six Western Balkan states held in Durrës, Markovic said that Montenegro welcomes the agreement between Macedonia and Greece, as well as the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, but he thinks that economic themes should  be in focus, and especially meeting the responsibilities assumed at the summits in Trieste and London. “Many significant things happened this year. Important for the entire region of Western Balkans. New enlargement strategy of the European Commission is a major step forward for us. This strategy gives clear perspective to the region. But in order for this perspective to be certain, we have to do our best to get the benefits deriving from the Strategy and our national integration policies”, said Markovic. He also believes in the dialogue between Kosovo and Pristina which can be beneficial for the entire region as well. “However, today we are supposed to talk about what we have already agreed on and see what we had already done in that regard. We should also see if we have capacities to stay true to our commitments,” said Markovic. When it comes to the Enlargement strategy and Berlin process, Montenegro should focus on the issues comprised in the Strategy of the European Commission, which are complementary to Berlin process.

“We should focus on the formation of Guarantee Fund as proposed by the EU and to undertake activities to support beginners in business, for simpler financing of small and medium enterprises” said Markovic. Until the assumed responsibilities are met, the country will not take on new ones. “This isn’t supposed to be a game of papers and documents”, said Markovic.

European Commissioner for Enlargement policy, Johannes Hahn as well as the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Suma Chakrabarti attended the meeting.

US congressmen commend Macedonia’s reform progress (MIA)

A visiting delegation of US Congressmen, led by Bill Flores, congratulated Prime Minister Zoran Zaev on the Skopje-Athens name agreement and commended Macedonia’s reform progress, the government said in a press release on Monday. The meeting was also attended by Defense, Foreign Ministers Radmila Sekerinska and Nikola Dimitrov respectively, and National NATO Coordinator Stevo Pendarovski. Zaev briefed the guests about the agreement benefits and the preparations for the 30 September referendum, including the campaign preceding the plebiscite. The settlement of long-standing name dispute, which withheld Macedonia’s aspirations to join the European Union and NATO, also enabled the country to acquire a new friend, supporter and EU member – Greece, Zaev said. The two countries, he added, have shown the region, the world that all issues may be resolved if there is political will. By the agreements with Greece and Bulgaria and the reaffirmation of the relations with other neighbors Macedonia from crises generator has become a factor of stability and champion of constructive cooperation, which led to the EU, US re-engagement in the region and strengthened the EU, NATO perspective of the Western Balkan countries, the press release reads.

Hahn: Citizens of Macedonia should choose between EU membership and isolation (MIA)

The citizens of Macedonia should decide whether they will become part of the European Union or return to isolation, the EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, told reporters on Monday. It’s up to the citizens of Macedonia to either choose isolation, from which the country barely managed to pull out, or the EU integration and better living standard, Hahn said Monday after an informal meeting of heads of government of the Western Balkan countries in Durres, Albania. At the informal meeting, prime ministers of the Western Balkan countries pledged to speed up efforts to create a joint economic zone ahead of their integration into the European Union. Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev was forced to cancel his trip because of poor weather conditions. Prime Ministers of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina did not come, sending senior officials instead.

Referendum campaign: Number of parties, amount of funds to be known Wednesday (MIA)

It will be revealed, most likely, how much money each of the caucuses in Parliament will get to run the referendum campaign this Wednesday. Funding for the campaign does not involve cash payments to parliamentary groups and lawmakers, the parliament’s press service says. The campaign will be realized by purchasing commercial space in the media proportionally according to the number of MPs in a parliamentary group. The referendum campaign is expected to be kicked off on September 10. As a government representative, Minister Damjan Mancevski attended a coordination meeting of Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi with coordinators of the parliamentary groups. A coordinator of the opposition party VMRO-DPMNE again was a no-show. Parties of the ruling majority, led by SDSM and DUI, as well as Besa, DPA and the Alliance for Albanians will run a Yes vote campaign ahead of the referendum scheduled on Sept. 30, it has been announced. Only the parliamentary group of the opposition party VMRO-DPMNE will not take part in the referendum campaign with funds earmarked for the party by the government, which are set to be transferred to Parliament. VMRO-DPMNE said they will donate the money.

OSCE/ODIHR to deploy 270 observes to monitor name referendum (MIA)

Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov held Monday a meeting with Ambassador Jan Petersen, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR referendum observation mission, who informed him how this international organization will monitor the referendum slated for Sept. 30. Presenting basic information about the OSCE/ODIHR mission, Ambassador Petersen also briefed on the activities planned by the observation mission leading up to the referendum and on referendum day. The mission should contain 270 observers, according to an ODIHR estimation, the Foreign Ministry (MoFA) said in a press release. Minister Dimitrov expressed satisfaction with ODIHR for accepting his invitation to deploy an observation mission ahead of the name referendum. He said that current developments were of ‘historic importance’ as well as the opportunity given to the citizens through this democratic act to voice their views on the matter of immense importance for the future of the country and its strategic commitment to joining NATO and the EU and also for allowing political stabilization of the region. Dimitrov reaffirmed Macedonia’s readiness to continue to cooperate with ODIHR, in particular to advancing electoral processes in the country that ‘contribute to meeting the required European standards, deemed important to accelerate the process of Macedonia to integrate into the EU and NATO,’ stated the press release.  ODIHR observers will hold press conference in Skopje later in the day to present its upcoming activities ahead of the referendum.

Albania-Kosovo joint governments meeting in Peja (ADN)

Albanian and Kosovo governments will hold their joint meeting in Peja this November.

The news was made public by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj during the informal meeting of the Prime Ministers of Western Balkans. “As we agree with the Albanian Prime Minister Rama we will held the joint meeting of our governments in November where I believe we will finalize all procedures and will remove all custom’s procedures that damages our citizens,” said Haradinaj. This will be the fifth meeting of the two governments. Prime ministers of Bulgaria, Serbia and Macedonia did not attend the informal meeting organized on Monday by Prime Minister, Edi Rama in Durres. At the outset of his speech, Rama explained the reasons for the absence of Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Boyko Borisov, Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabic, and Macedonian PM, Zoran Zaev. “I take the opportunity to express our condolences, PM Borisov for the tragic accident where many people lost their lives. Also, it was impossible for Macedonian Prime Minister to come after waiting more than an hour at Skopje Airport. While, Serbian Prime Minister sent us her regrets for impossibility to come,” stated Rama. However, Rama believes that it was a useful meeting where they did a balance on the progress of creating the regional economic zone.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

Merkel: We support dialogue, but territorial integrity is important (European Western Balkans, 28 August 2018)

BERLIN – During a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković, German Chancellor Angela Merkel briefly reflected on her yesterday’s conversation with US President Donald Trump, in which latest developments between Serbia and Kosovo were also discussed. “We have shared thoughts on the situation between Serbia and Kosovo. We, of course, support all talks that lead to the goals, but at the same time we must say that the territorial integrity as it is today is an important value”, she said. Merkel added that she had made that clear during the visits of Montenegrin and Bosnian Prime Ministers and that actions that occur at one place should not be allowed to influence actions at other places. “Croatia supports territorial integrity and peaceful resolution of conflicts, and we follow everything that is happening between Kosovo and Serbia from that position”, stated Plenković.

Serbia-Kosovo possible border changes explained: What’s at stake? (euronews, by Emma Beswick, 27 August 2018)

The leaders of Kosovo and Serbia Saturday voiced their intention to change the border between the two countries. Professor Dr Florian Bieber of Southeast European Studies, University of Graz, told Euronews exactly what this change might entail, the potential ramifications for those in the affected regions, and why the European Union fears redrawing the borders might reignite the ethnic violence the region saw in the nineties.

What are the proposed changes?

There has never been a formal plan released in which border changes were laid out, but Bieber says this is understandable as the modifications are “much more complicated in practice than as an idea”. Based on previous debates, the main areas involved in discussions include four municipalities in the north of Kosovo which host a large, majority Serbian population. Leposavic, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and North Mitrovica have “not fully been under Kosovan governmental rule since the country became independent”, according to Bieber. He said the most likely scenario, which has not been officialised by either country, involves these four municipalities being given to Serbia.

The question of Bujanovac and Presevo, municipalities in Serbia with mainly ethnic Albanian populations, being divided and given to Kosovo is also a possibility, according to the professor.

Why are we talking about it now?

While the idea of border changes has been talked about for several weeks, the two concerned leaders, Kosovo’s Hashim Thaci and Serbia’s Aleksandar Vucic, Saturday went before the international community for the first time to ask for support for the deal. “Kosovo is determined to reach a binding legal agreement with Serbia. The time to do this is now,” Thaci said at a panel discussion in Austria. “We have a short window of opportunity. It is not easy at all; it is very, very difficult. That’s why everybody has to be behind it.”

Who are the main actors in the discussions?

President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, were wartime enemies, both active members for different sides during the 1998-99 Kosovo War. At the European Forum Alpbach in the Austrian Alps, despite Thaci claiming the pair “don’t like” each other, they presented a united front in asking the EU for its support regarding the border issue. “I think they are both very much motivated by personal, political survival and power,” said Bieber of the two leaders. “I don’t think they are particularly concerned by the larger political implications,” he added. The Serbian government might hope to use the deal as a way of speeding up EU accession, which is currently under negotiation, according to the professor.

“It seems like this idea (the border change) is not widely supported in Kosovo,” he said. For Thaci, this would be a way of getting a deal that would allow Kosovo to join the United Nations.

Why might the EU block the move?

While remaining diplomatic, Johannes Hahn, the EU commissioner responsible for the Balkans, emplored the two leaders at a panel to make sure any eventual deal would not destabilise the wider Balkan Peninsula. “This is a high-risk strategy,” explained Bieber, “something that seemed unachievable before suddenly becomes possible.” Those that dream of changing the borders might become more adamant in demanding change, according to the professor. He said there is a “significant risk” that areas in Bosnia could be redrawn, along with FYRO Macedonia and Montenegro, which are all home to regions that are not immediately challenged but have been in the past.

What about people living near the border?

The motivation for the proposed change is to have fewer Serbs and more Albanians in Kosovo, but borders can rarely be redrawn cleanly, according to Bieber. “There will always be people on the wrong side,” he said. In this case, Serbs that might suddenly find themselves in Kosovo.

He also flagged the Serbs living in Kosovo that are not in any of the regions that would move, for whom there is a risk that their minority rights may deteriorate upon becoming even fewer in number.

Is the border move likely to come to fruition?

For Vucic, keeping the subject on the political agenda might be interesting, rather than being forced to deal with issues of political reform that are more sensitive, according to Bieber.

He said the deal is more plausible now than it was six months ago, but the challenge of both leaders agreeing on the details of the change “rather than just talking about it” will be the real turning point. Serbia sees Kosovo as a rebel province, despite most EU countries recognising it, and refuses to recognize the country’s declaration of independence in 2008. This sees Kosovo’s membership to the UN in limbo, blocked by Russia, an ally of Serbia.