Berlin summit on Kosovo: Serbia demands lifting of blockade, separatists refuse compromises
The first day of the “Western Balkans” summit in Berlin, where one of the main topics was a new round of conflict around the region of Kosovo, as many analysts warned, did not bring results. However, at the very beginning of the meeting, the host of the meeting, Chancellor Angela Merkel, said that she did not expect any breakthrough decisions.
Let us recall that the Berlin meeting was initiated by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron to sign a final agreement on the full normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.
“Belgrade and Pristina agreed to continue their efforts to implement existing agreements and constructively engage in dialogue on normalization of relations through the EU with the aim of reaching a comprehensive and final agreement,” is the restrained official wording that sums up the results of the first day of the summit.
The agreement that Serbia could someday conclude with Kosovo separatists, according to Merkel, “is crucial for the path to Europe.”
The leaders of Germany and France welcome the head of the Kosovo separatists, Hashim Thaci
At the summit in Berlin, Serbia did not make concessions on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija and continues to demand that Pristina’s decision on the economic blockade of Serbian enclaves be reversed, Prime Minister Anna Brnabic, who is participating in the summit along with the country’s President Aleksandar, said in an interview with Pink TV channel. Vucic.
Serbian leaders with Merkel and Macron
“As a result, no one forced or forced Serbia to continue the dialogue and refuse to defend its position on the removal of duties,” Brnabic said.
“We said quite honestly what we think and what we feel, what the current situation is, and that we are here to continue negotiations. We are there for a compromise, but we insist that taxes must be abolished,” she stressed, noting that the dialogue was difficult.
However, Pristina’s position on this issue remains unchanged - there is no talk of any compromise yet.
Meanwhile, according to the Prime Minister of Serbia, the attitude towards the country at the summit was respectful: “We are returning home with this, Serbia was heard, Serbia’s opinion is respected. I think this is the result of a unified policy pursued by President Aleksandar Vucic, which is a policy of emotions and handshakes without gloves. And we talk about the same thing both behind closed doors and with open ones. If we have friendly relations, we respect these people and do not score populist political points with them,” Brnabic emphasized.
The work of the Balkans summit will continue today. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will meet with representatives of the Bundestag. Negotiations will be held with Ginther Kriechbaum, chairman of the European Affairs Committee, and then with Johan Wadepoel, deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU faction.
According to Vucic, quoted by Informer, the next negotiations on Kosovo are already scheduled for early July in Paris.
“We will try to find a solution to continue the dialogue,” Vucic told reporters after the conversation in Berlin.
As PolitNavigator reported, the day before the Serbian President held talks with the leaders of China and Russia, enlisting support on the Kosovo issue.
A few days ago in Moscow, Serbian Defense Minister Alexander Vulin said that NATO is arming Albanian terrorists.
The United States needs the Greater Albania project in order to have control over transport and energy corridors in the Balkans, say representatives of the Serbian Foreign Ministry.
In recent months, street protests by local opposition have intensified in Serbia demanding the overthrow of President Aleksandar Vucic. According to observers, the street protests are incited by the West to pressure on the Serbian authorities during negotiations on the fate of Kosovo.
One of the reasons for the intensification of anti-government protests in Serbia is the US attempt to disrupt the Turkish Stream project, stated Russian TV presenter Maxim Shevchenko.
Experts believe that if the Maidan in Belgrade is successful, All Russian projects in Serbia will be under threat.
At the end of last year, the Kosovo authorities also imposed a virtual blockade on the supply of goods from Serbia to the Slavic enclaves. Pristina's actions constitute genocide against the Serbian population, said Russian State Duma deputy Pavel Dorokhin.
The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned actions of the authorities in Pristina.
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