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The agreement on the normalization of economic relations between the two neighboring countries is probably only a first small step. The American president still manages a surprise coup.
Donald Trump receives Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (left) and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti (right) in the Oval Office for the signing of the agreement.
You can also wait for an appointment without knowing exactly what it is about. Since it emerged on Thursday that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti would sign an economic deal at the White House on Friday in the presence of President Trump, the issue has kept Balkan observers tense. . What the two neighboring states agreed to was kept under lock and key until the end. The short-term postponement of the event in Trump’s studio, the Oval Office, further raised expectations.
Two major points of contention are suspended for a year
Trump and his chief negotiator for Serbian-Kosovar relations, former ambassador to Berlin Richard Grenell, undoubtedly managed to surprise. At the ceremony, Trump announced that Serbia would move its embassy to Jerusalem. In addition, Israel and Kosovo would establish diplomatic relations. Hardly anyone expected that Israel could also be a problem in the negotiations that have been underway since Thursday.
The move of the Serbian embassy is a success for the US president, who wants as many states as possible to follow his example in Israel. Kosovo can also be satisfied. For the youngest state in Europe, the issue of international recognition is of vital importance.
If the deal’s approach to the normalization of economic relations can be described as a “historic breakthrough,” as Donald Trump did, opinions are likely to differ. As previously announced, the transport links between the two countries will be improved and expanded. Additionally, Kosovo will join the planned mini-Schengen zone between Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania.
The future recognition of Kosovar diplomas by Serbia is remarkable. Belgrade is deeply anxious to avoid anything that can be understood as an implicit recognition of Kosovo’s independence. The agreement does not mention appellations of origin, the non-recognition of which by Serbia represents a major barrier to trade. No notable progress was made on other open issues, such as the use of the Gazivoda reservoir located in the territory of both countries, the Trepca mine in northern Kosovo with a Serbian population, or energy issues.
Additionally, the two states have vowed to suspend two of the biggest problems for a year. Kosovo will not apply for membership in international organizations for the time being, and Serbia will suspend the campaign aimed at persuading third countries to withdraw recognition of Kosovo’s independence.
Not just financial issues
Contrary to what was announced, the agreement goes beyond purely economic issues. Grenell had caused considerable irritation with his negotiating initiative in Brussels since the beginning of the year, because the talks between Serbia and Kosovo are actually taking place under the aegis of the EU. Americans later said they wanted to focus on improving economic relations.
The first round of talks in Washington had to be canceled on short notice in June because shortly before the scheduled date, Kosovo’s head of state had been charged with war crimes by the special court in The Hague. The United States had trusted Hashim Thaci as a negotiating partner and supported him in the power struggle with then-Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
Despite all the criticism of Grenell’s advance on the complex dossier, the US special envoy must be recognized for having lobbied the EU to act in the Balkans. The appointment of the new special envoy for Serbia and Kosovo, Miroslav Lajcak, goes back to this. Vucic and Hoti are expected to be in Brussels for talks on Monday.
The agreement signed on Friday is, at best, a small step on the long road towards solving the main unanswered questions, in particular the recognition of Kosovo by Serbia. Grenell can still be satisfied. He gave his boss a chance in election year. to report a success in foreign policy. It cannot be completely ruled out that this was the case.
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