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Trump has experienced a flourishing foreign policy in the last few months leading up to the election.
Serbia and Kosovo agreed on an economic rapprochement. The corresponding document was signed at the White House in the presence of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who announced a “historic day.” On Monday in Brussels, the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo held talks on normalization and political relations.
The agreements, which became a serious step to improve the situation in the Balkans, did not go without a scandal caused by Russian Foreign Minister Maria Zakharova’s joke about a photograph of Serbian President Alexander Vucic in the White House. Correspondent.net says the details.
In which we agreed
Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. It was recognized by several European states, including Germany and the United States. Belgrade considers Kosovo its autonomous province and does not recognize the independence of Pristina. Serbia’s position is shared by practically all the states of the post-Soviet space, as well as China and India.
The European Union is striving to normalize relations between Pristina and Belgrade. For Brussels, the recognition of Kosovo’s independence is a precondition for Serbia’s accession to the EU.
The document, called Economic Normalization, was signed by Serbian President Aleksandr Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdulah Hoti on Friday, September 4, in Washington in the presence of the head of the White House.
“After decades of history of violence and tragedy, long years of failed negotiations, my government proposes a new approach to bridge the gap (between Serbia and Kosovo), focusing on the economy,” Trump said.
Washington believes that the establishment of economic ties between Serbs and Kosovars will make possible the normalization of political relations between them, as well as mutual recognition.
One of the most significant elements of the agreement signed in the United States is the decision of Kosovo to join the visa-free zone previously agreed by Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia.
In addition, the signed agreement regulates mutual investment issues in some infrastructure projects, such as the construction of a highway to Pristina and the operation of the Gazivode reservoir, which feeds the hydroelectric plant of the same name.
The main political news is that Pristina has pledged not to seek membership in international organizations for a year. Serbia in the same period will not persuade others to refuse to recognize the independence of Kosovo.
The documents signed by Vucic and Hoti differ on a political point, which refers to the relations between Belgrade and Pristina with Israel.
The Serbian embassy will move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, while Kosovo and Israel recognize each other and establish diplomatic relations. Furthermore, both Serbia and Kosovo “out of respect for the United States” recognized Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
According to Belgrade political scientist Vlatko Seculovic, this paragraph of the document not only increases Trump’s pre-election chances, but also reinforces the deal itself.
“The willingness of Israel and Kosovo to recognize each other makes it difficult for nationalists to criticize the Washington document,” the political scientist said.
At the same time, the agreements do not eliminate the political differences around the recognition of Kosovo’s independence, it is clear from the words of the President of Serbia.
“This is not a trilateral agreement. The difference is important. So, this is an agreement that Serbia has concluded with the United States, the third is not recognized as a subject of international law. This is extremely important to us, and I thank President Trump “said Vucic.
On September 7, Serbia and Kosovo “substantially agreed” on the issues of missing persons and internally displaced persons and economic issues, and opened two new issues, one of which is the Community of Serbian Municipalities, Vucic said after speaking with the prime minister of Kosovo.
“This is important for the internally displaced, we do not expect much progress, but we believe that this will bring certain results. The expectation of a miracle is not objective and unrealistic,” added the Serbian leader.
The heads of the expert negotiating groups of Serbia and Kosovo will continue negotiations on September 17, with the next summit scheduled for September 28 in Brussels, Vucic said.
“The agenda includes the most important and most difficult issues, we have opposing points of view on many issues, it will not be easy,” he added.
In a joint statement after the talks under the auspices of the EU, it is noted that the parties “pledged to redouble their efforts to ensure closer ties with the EU in accordance with their obligations.”
It is difficult to talk about full-blown trade and economic relations without Kosovo’s political and diplomatic recognition from Belgrade, because the trade wars between Pristina and Belgrade are based on purely political issues, says Iliya Kusa, an expert on international politics and the Middle East at the Institute. Ukrainian for the Future.
“Therefore, the agreements between Serbia and Kosovo are a great convention, a document that will only be necessary for the personal political objectives of the signatories themselves, mainly Trump, as this is a very good reason for him to raise audience ratings. in the context of foreign policy successes, “he wrote. it’s on their Facebook page.
Vucic was offended in Russia
On Saturday night, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova posted a collage of photos on her Facebook, combining a snapshot of Vucic’s meeting with Trump in Washington with the famous interrogation frame. from the movie Basic Instinct.
Zakharova’s collage was accompanied by the signature: “If you were summoned to the database and the chair was placed as if you were under questioning, sit as in photo # 2. Whoever you are. Just believe.”
The Russian diplomacy spokesperson’s comments drew an angry reaction from Vucic.
“The subconscious speaks above all about a person, Maria Zakharova said above all about herself, primitivism and simplicity speak above all about her and those who published it … Solve the problems with your fantasies as you want, and I sat in this chair, to solve the problems of Serbia and fight for their interests, “he said on the air of local television.
The Serbian president noted that during negotiations with Trump, he also defended Russia’s interests.
“People do not appreciate the fact that Serbia is the only country that has not imposed sanctions against Russia, I suppose they appreciate the top leadership. They do not appreciate that Serbia is a militarily neutral country and will not join NATO, the only country that buy gas and have weapons, “he said.
Later, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry edited his post and claimed it was misinterpreted.
“The only thing that (the publication. – ed.) Contained was the rejection of the arrogant attitude on the part of the” exceptional. “Protocol tricks have become one of the tricks that American officials routinely use to artificially create the appearance of its own exclusivity. And this is unacceptable. ” – she added.
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