Former Minister for Kosovo and Metohija in the Serbian Government, Slobodan Samardzic assessed today that regardless if “delineation” between Kosovo and Serbia is realistic or not, the stance of Raska-Prizren Eparchy dignitaries remain as a warning that not a single piece of Kosovo and Metohija territory must be surrendered, Danas daily reports.
Today, the Belgrade press writes there would be no extraordinary session of the Serbian Orthodox Church Holly Archbishop’s Synod. However, Blic daily reports the session could be held if a referendum on Kosovo and Metohija is announced.
According to the Blic daily, ever since the Serbian Orthodox Church adopted a stance on Kosovo, which says, “neither independence nor division,” and President Vucic is proposing delineation, relations between church and state became strained.
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.
German Chancellor, Angela Merkel confirmed she spoke over the phone with USA President Donald Trump and one of the topics discussed was resolving the problem between Belgrade and Pristina, TV N1 reported.
According to TV N1, Merkel said that existing territories are a value and it should be taken into consideration that certain solutions do not cause consequences in other countries.
The Belgrade – Pristina talks will be difficult and complicated, and the negotiators will “fight” over the smallest details, while sharp public reactions are expected, Belgrade-based Politika daily acting editor-in-chief told N1.
Zarko Rakic added that "we will see how the current regime would manage to cushion them.”
He added it would be difficult for Belgrade’s authorities “to precisely and convincingly explain to people why the moment for negotiation is now.”
By: Adnan Cerimagic
I made a personal plea to the presidents of Serbia and Kosovo — but it fell on deaf ears.
On a stage with the presidents of Kosovo and Serbia at the weekend, I appealed directly to both of them not to make a fatal mistake and destabilize the whole Balkan region.
I spoke not just as a policy analyst but in personal terms as a citizen of the Balkans, telling the story of how my birthplace in Bosnia and Herzegovina was destroyed by war but reborn as a multiethnic community once again.
“It was a splendid PR move” this is how Tina Prelec, associate of the London School of Economics described messages sent from the European forum held over the weekend in Alpbach, Austria, where she also took part along with Kosovo and Serbian presidents Hashim Thaci and Aleksandar Vucic, Radio Free Europe reports.
In an interview for Radio Free Europe, Prelec said Serbian and Kosovo sides used this gathering to present an idea on change of borders at the highest level.
Southeast Europe Studies professor at Graz University Florian Bieber said the proposed border change was "much more complicated in practice than as an idea."
Professor Bieber told Euronews portal that the deal between Belgrade and Pristina on border changes might inspire similar ambitions in the region. He flagged Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro as areas that might demand change.
He thought that the president of Serbian and Kosovo, Aleksandar Vucic and Hashim Thaci weren't "particularly concerned by the larger political implications."
American geopolitician and a founder of Stratfor Agency George Friedman opined for Danas daily what would be an ideal solution to resolve the Kosovo issue.
According to him, the ideal solution would be that Belgrade and Pristina reach a direct agreement without involvement of a third party. He also thinks it is important for Serbia to resolve this issue as soon as possible and “move ahead.”
Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director, Marko Djuric earlier announced that the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic during the forthcoming visit to Kosovo would “convey a strong message” to the Serbs living here, RTV KIM reported.
Expectations of inhabitants from central Kosovo are different, while some local politicians think all they would hear are pre-ordered applauses for the main orator.