The new head of European Union diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, held separate meetings with the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia, where they discussed the dialogue for normalizing relations between the two countries, the attack in Banjska, and the explosion at the Ibër-Lepenc canal in Zubin Potok.
The separate meetings in Brussels between Kallas and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, were not part of the EU-mediated dialogue for normalizing relations between Prishtina and Belgrade.
“I met with President Vučić and Prime Minister Kurti. The only path to EU membership is through normalizing relations based on the Ohrid Agreement. I welcomed their willingness to cooperate following the recent terrorist attack. The perpetrators must face justice,” Kallas wrote in a post on social media.
Kallas also stated that she will work for the Western Balkans region, “so we can move forward in the enlargement process, which benefits both the EU and these countries. The other path is to try to reduce existing tensions so that we can progress in the dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade, where I am also willing to invest my time.”
Kurti insists on the Ohrid Agreement for the normalization process
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that he discussed Kosovo’s European integration and relations with neighboring Serbia with Kallas, noting that Kallas is “in the right place at the right time.”
“Among the leaders that Europe has today, I believe that Kallas is in the right place at the right time. We have great hopes that Kosovo and the Western Balkans region will benefit a lot in terms of European values, democratic principles, economic and financial support, and peace and security in general,” Kurti said after the meeting.
Kurti told reporters that he asked the new structures of the European Commission to insist on the implementation of the agreement for the normalization of relations with Serbia, reached last year, and not to forget this agreement whenever the dialogue is mentioned.
Kurti informed Kallas about the investigation into the recent attack that occurred on November 29 in Zubin Potok on the Ibër-Lepenc canal and reiterated Kosovo’s request for the extradition of Milan Radojičić, who is responsible for the armed attack on September 24, 2023, in Banjska, Zvečan.
Speaking about the explosion at the Ibër-Lepenc canal, which Kosovo blames on Serbia, Kurti said many Russian elements were found.
The European Union has labeled the November 29 attack in Zubin Potok as a “terrorist act” and a “sabotage” of Kosovo’s critical infrastructure.
“There were confiscated weapons and materials found. Of the 74 emblems seized, 20 are Russian, from different Russian units, the others are mostly Serbian. There is also one from the Kosovo Liberation Army, which makes us think that someone wanted to mislead the investigations, or as NATO calls it, a ‘false flag operation’,” said Kurti, repeating his request for international assistance.
Kallas, who began her five-year term on December 1, will be responsible for mediating the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia.
When asked if Kallas gave any signals about how she views the continuation of the dialogue, Kurti said that she mostly listened during the meeting, and it will be seen later how she will act.
“Today’s meeting was more about her listening to us. She will also listen to others, and there is no doubt that next year she will intensify the process for peace and integration by working with her team. But what form this will take is hard to say now. Clearly, she is showing her commitment to the region, and this is a good sign for Kosovo, which has expectations from Kallas, but also for the entire region,” Kurti said.
The Prime Minister of Kosovo also stated that he has not backed down from his conditions for the dialogue, which include the extradition of Radojičić, the withdrawal of a letter sent to EU institutions last year by then-Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, and the insistence that the Agreement for the Normalization of Relations be signed.
The Agreement – also known as the Ohrid Agreement – consists of 11 articles, including provisions for a level of self-management for the Serb community in Kosovo, mutual recognition of state symbols, and the requirement for Serbia not to block Kosovo’s membership in international organizations, as well as obligations for both Prishtina and Belgrade to implement previous agreements reached during the dialogue.
Kurti also said that he requested the removal of punitive measures that the EU has imposed on Kosovo.
Vučić says he had a “difficult” conversation with Kallas
Meanwhile, after his meeting with Kallas, Vučić told reporters that the conversation with the EU foreign policy chief “was not easy,” but added that it was sincere and open.
“She [Kallas] insisted on greater alignment of our foreign policy, especially regarding sanctions on Russia, continuing the dialogue, and a greater willingness for compromises with Prishtina, as well as for a quick resolution of the Banjska case,” Vučić said to reporters in Brussels, adding that he responded to these demands “in line with Serbia’s policy.”
He again denied Kosovo’s claims that Serbia was behind the explosion in Zubin Potok, which damaged Kosovo’s critical infrastructure.
The Serbian leader expressed his readiness to cooperate with everyone in the investigation and possible prosecution of those responsible.
Serbia’s authorities will inform the public as soon as they have any proof regarding who is responsible for the attack in Zubin Potok.
Later on December 3, Kurti and Vučić, along with other Western Balkan leaders, held separate meetings with the new President of the European Council, Antonio Costa.
The bilateral meetings were held ahead of a dinner hosted by Costa for regional leaders.
Costa wrote on social media during the meetings with regional leaders that “the future of the Western Balkans is in the EU.”
According to EU sources, these meetings aimed to allow Costa, who began his mandate on December 1, to meet them personally, as well as to prepare for the EU-Western Balkans summit that will take place on December 18 in Brussels.
Otherwise, Kurti and Vučić last met in the context of the Brussels dialogue in September 2023.
A few days after that meeting, the attack in Banjska occurred, where armed groups of Serbs attacked the Kosovo Police and killed one officer.
Kosovo blames Serbia for the attack, but Belgrade denies involvement.
Milan Radojičić, former deputy leader of the Serbian List, Kosovo’s main Serbian party that enjoys Belgrade’s support, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Kosovo has raised charges for the Banjska case, where Radojičić is said to have been the head of the group. Prishtina has requested that Serbia extradite him to Kosovo authorities.
On the other hand, Serbia’s judicial authorities have warned that they will soon make a decision regarding the possible indictment of Radojičić for the Banjska case, as Serbian authorities have conducted a separate investigation.
The EU and the United States have repeatedly called for those responsible for the attack to face justice.
