German Ambassador in Kosovo: Asymmetry in dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia (Deutsche Welle, Tanjug, Novosti)
German Ambassador in Kosovo, Angelika Viets, said a dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is one of the political priorities in Kosovo, but she cannot see how it would be continued, Serbian media reported late yesterday.
„On one side you have the Prime Minster Vucic, who got very empowered at the last election and has a strong party behind him, while the authorities here are divided into three different groups and there is no national consensus about any topic. In such situation, continuation of a dialogue is hardly possible,” Viets said.
“It is hardly possible that dialogue could continue, without the involvement of the Kosovo Parliament.”
She also said dialogue is in a stalemate since one year ago, and there are many agreements that are not implemented, mentioning agreement of the Community of Serb Municipalities and agreement on energy.
German Ambassador also said at this moment she does not see a possibility that parties gathering in the coalition could establish a stable government in Kosovo, as it is about parties and personalities who cannot stand each other, while many of them are afraid of criminal prosecution in case they do not remain in power.
A phase of instability would probably follow and it would bring in the need of the new elections, Viets said to Deutsche Welle.
Commenting on the political crisis after the elections in Kosovo, she said the situation reminds her of elections in June 2014, but the conflict is much older and dates back to 1999 or even to the period prior to 1999.
She also assessed that last parliamentary elections were fair and transparent but the struggle for power, at this moment, is marked with egoism. That is why she does not expect any solution, neither during the continuation of the Assembly session, announced for 10 August.
Even if during upcoming days or weeks, majority to establish the government is formed, for what they need 61 or 62 votes out of 120 it would bring unstable government, when we know there is often no quorum in the parliament, she said.
She also added implementation of the EU reform programmes would become harder because of, as she considers, disputable Kosovo status issue for one part of the world population.
Politicians from here know, that among others, the road to the EU can be long, because of those who do not wish to recognize Kosovo. That is why it is difficult to maintain the will to implement reforms, Viets concluded.