Former US Ambassador to Serbia and Chair of the East-West Institute Cameron Munter opined that solution to the Kosovo issue can not be “dictated from aside” but it must be an outcome of an agreement by Belgrade and Pristina, RTS reported.
Munter added it depends upon Belgrade and Pristina only when would the negotiations continue, which he deemed crucial for the better future of citizens in Serbia and Kosovo. He also said the format, content and outcome of the negotiations to the greatest extend depend upon the decisions of the two sides.
“It is important that we realize it cannot be a solution dictated from aside, but it must come from those who are negotiating,” Munter underlined.
He didn’t want to speculate about possible solutions, such as delimitation or division of Kosovo, saying that such scenarios must be an agreement between the two sides. However, exchange of territory according to him is a sensitive issue.
“Also, about that eventually, the governments of Kosovo and Serbia should decide. However, this is a rather sensitive issue and we would like to be convinced that not only the governments, but also citizens are ready for something like that. It is a difficult issue that requires not only negotiations capabilities, but also a political courage,” Munter said.
Asked to comment on stances that an eventual change of borders would open Pandora’s box in the Balkans and encourage others to think in the same direction, Munter responded he does not believe that would be the aim.
“I cannot speculate about that. I think it is more important to focus not only on the borders, but also on the future of the states as EU members, where citizens would live better and have better opportunities,” Munter concluded.
