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Balkans: Serbian President Vučić hints at acceptance of Kosovo settlement plan

2023-01-23T22:50:05.869Z


The EU is pressuring Serbia to agree to a Franco-German plan to resolve the conflict with Kosovo. President Aleksandar Vučić now announces that he is ready "for the path of compromise".


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Also faces criticism from within his own ranks: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić

Photo:

MARKO DJURICA / REUTERS

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has hinted that he may accept the latest Franco-German plan to normalize relations with Kosovo.

Western negotiators had given him the choice of accepting the plan or facing the consequences of breaking off EU accession talks and withdrawing foreign investment, he said in a press conference broadcast live on TV.

Faced with this choice, "I am in favor of the path of compromise, however controversial it may be," declared Vučić.

Kosovo, now inhabited almost exclusively by Albanians, used to be part of Serbia.

After an armed uprising by the Kosovar Albanians and massive human rights violations by the Serbian security forces, NATO responded in spring 1999 with bombings in what was then the rest of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro).

From 1999 to 2008, the UN administration Unmik managed the area.

In 2008 the country declared itself independent.

To this day, Serbia has not recognized this step and is claiming the territory for itself.

Western diplomatic efforts in the past few years have not resulted in any significant normalization of the situation.

Tensions had recently escalated again in the form of road blockades and incidents of shelling.

German-French plan: only key points known so far

The Franco-German plan became known in the autumn of the previous year and was never really officially published.

But its key points have been known ever since it was submitted to the sides.

Among other things, it stipulates that although Serbia and Kosovo will not formally recognize each other, they will mutually accept their state existence within the current borders.

In particular, Serbia would stop blocking Kosovo's membership of international organizations with the active support of Russia.

"There is no question that we support Kosovo's accession to the UN, but we would de facto accept its membership," Vučić continued.

If that were to happen, it would actually be a turning point in Vučić's Kosovo policy, which has so far been based on Serbian nationalism.

"The geopolitical situation has changed," he said.

Because of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, there is "nervousness in Europe".

“Escapades in your own backyard” would no longer be tolerated.

The Franco-German plan has long since become an EU plan, which is also supported by the five member states that have not yet recognized Kosovo.

These are Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Cyprus.

Apparently, this is why things are fermenting in the SNS presidential party.

At a meeting of the SNS board last weekend, several participants expressed their opposition to a possible change of course.

Vučić, who is also the head of the SNS, then threatened to resign, after which all criticism fell silent, as Serbian media reported.

Vučić stressed that nothing had been decided yet.

In the end, the Serbian parliament and "perhaps the people" would have to have the last word.

atb/dpa/AP

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2023-01-23

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