Elections in Serbia will also affect the dialogue (Koha Ditore)
The paper’s Brussels-based correspondent, Augustin Palokaj, writes today that because of the election campaign, Serbia now can drag out even more the process of normalizing relations with Kosovo. “Serbia PM Aleksandar Vucic is in a favorable position, because there is nothing to lose for Serbia. Negotiations have started and chapters have been opened,” Palokaj writes. According to the author, the international community should be more careful with Serbia and Vucic. “Vucic insists he is committed to Serbia's EU integration, but at the same time being faithful to Russia. Serbia through Russia is managing to prevent Kosovo's progress in integration in international organizations, while achieving progress in its own EU integration. Serbia plays a double game also with the Pristina – Belgrade dialogue, thanks to which it also achieved great success, while made no changes from its position of opposing Kosovo’s status. Serbia is not at all trying to normalize relations with Kosovo and this is best seen in the case of Kosovo's membership in UNESCO. In best case scenario for Kosovo, Vucic would give priority to EU membership after the elections and might be more willing to accept the reality that Kosovo is a state. But this is only a prediction which is difficult to be achieved,” Palokaj concludes.