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International Crisis Group: Pristina to withdraw special police units from northern Kosovo - Kosovo Online 8–10 minutes _____ Pristina should withdraw its special police units from northern Kosovo, where the Serbian majority lives, and until it does so, it should deploy them in coordination with KFOR forces. Additionally, Kosovo must meet the needs of the Serbian minority in Kosovo, with or without a formal framework for autonomy, as indicated in the latest report by the International Crisis Group (ICG). It is also noted that the EU and the US should continue to pressure Pristina to lift the ban on importing food and medicine from Serbia, as well as the ban on using the Serbian dinar. "The main priority is demilitarization. Kosovo should withdraw its special police units from the region with a Serbian majority, and until it does so, it should deploy them 'sparingly' and only in coordination with the peacekeeping forces of KFOR, which Serbs in the north see as more credible, given their commitment to neutrality. To increase Pristina's sense of security, KFOR should help Kosovo control its border, prevent further smuggling of heavy weaponry, and locate previously stockpiled weapons," the report <https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/balkans/kosovo/269-northern-kosovo-asserting-sovereignty-amid-divided-loyalties> entitled "Northern Kosovo: Affirming Sovereignty Amid Divided Loyalties" states. On the other hand, Serbia should stop "supporting paramilitary activities" and prosecute those involved in the killing of a Kosovo police officer, "to the extent that they fall under its jurisdiction." "In the absence of a comprehensive political solution, the burden will be on the EU, US, and NATO to maintain peace and prevent escalation until conditions mature for an agreement. This will mean pressure both on Pristina to withdraw its special police and on Belgrade to take the steps outlined, while retaining and, if necessary, strengthening NATO's peacekeeping presence," the ICG states. As a second priority, meeting the needs of the Kosovo Serb minority is mentioned - with or without a formal framework for autonomy. It is pointed out that Serbs in the north depend on schools, universities, and healthcare facilities managed by Serbia, while the majority of the population is employed in jobs directly or indirectly paid for by Belgrade, and many receive social security, in Serbian dinars, through a network of post offices and banks that Pristina wants to close. "Ethnic discrimination and language barriers prevent all but a few Kosovo Serbs from accessing the job market. If they lose access to Serbian jobs and benefits, many will emigrate. The EU and US should encourage Kosovo to guarantee that these key services of Serbia remain unchanged. They should also continue to pressure Pristina to lift the ban on importing food and medicine from Serbia, as well as using the Serbian dinar. In all these matters, Kosovo should follow the leadership of the EU and the US," the report emphasizes. It is also stated that the Serbian minority needs a voice, as it has lost faith in its representatives. "It has lost faith in its political representatives, appointed by the Serbian ruling SNS and emulating its leaders. Many fear Pristina and feel betrayed by Belgrade, while feeling ignored by Brussels and Washington. The European Union has unsuccessfully urged Kosovo to establish sustainable participatory democratic institutions for the Serbian minority. Instead, Pristina is slowly moving towards new elections in northern municipalities. New elections should be held no later than this summer," the ICG adds. It is indicated that Brussels and Washington, even as they pursue these goals, should continue to engage with Pristina on whether it could accept the terms of the proposed EU normalization agreement, including the creation of a Community of Serb Municipalities. "This agreement would be good for Serbs in the north, but also for Pristina: moving towards autonomy in the north will surely be an essential part of any arrangement that more fully integrates Kosovo into the international system, and Kosovo may never get a better offer than this. Belgrade may hesitate to agree to Kosovo's independence, but if Pristina takes such an important step, pressure on it to reciprocate by accepting Brussels' conditions would almost certainly increase. For Pristina, the political risk is bearable, and the potential for growth is great. It should give up," the ICG notes. The report also states, among other things, that a reasonable solution is already on the table, as in December 2022, the European Union, mediating in the dispute between Belgrade and Pristina since 2011, proposed a far-reaching normalization agreement whereby Serbia would not formally recognize Kosovo's independence but would act as if it were, while in return, Kosovo would give its Serbian minority a self-governing unit consisting of 10 municipalities with a Serbian majority, as promised a decade ago but not yet implemented. "The agreement was a compromise that gave all parties what they most urgently needed. Brussels reportedly persuaded Belgrade and Pristina to orally accept it, but could not force them to sign it, nor agree on all important details regarding how it should be implemented," the report recalls. It is noted that one "stumbling block" is the Serbian autonomous unit, which Kosovo calls the Association, and Serbs call the Community of Municipalities with a Serbian Majority, and that different names reflect disagreement about its scope and powers. Another "stumbling block" is the de facto recognition of Kosovo by Serbia. "The EU agreement is unclear on this issue, but France, Germany, and Italy have clarified it in subsequent statements, and Serbia strongly rejects this demand. De facto recognition means treating Kosovo as an independent state without a formal declaration and consent that other countries and international bodies, such as the UN, recognize and accept it as a member. Serbia is reluctant to face Kosovo one-on-one, but determined to keep its status open," it is added. It is also mentioned that there is little hope that dialogue with the EU can overcome these obstacles, and that the relationship between Belgrade and Pristina will likely remain frozen. "In that context, parties and external actors wishing for peace in the Western Balkans should first focus on reducing short-term risks of violence and then on achievable goals that can promote political stability in the event of a failed breakthrough in the normalization agreement," the ICG points out in the report. The International Crisis Group concludes that since the incident in Banjska last year, the Kosovo government has begun to rapidly dismantle Serbian institutions in its northern municipalities, potentially putting out of reach the prospects for a political solution to its longstanding disputes with Serbia. "A deal is on the table - an agreement that the EU put forward in December 2022 to which the parties seemed to have agreed, at least in principle - but neither side seems serious about following it. They should give it different prospects - it remains the best means for Serbia to advance the interests of the Serbian minority in northern Kosovo and for Kosovo to achieve the international status and recognition it seeks. But if it fails, parties and their external partners will have to develop alternative arrangements for demilitarizing northern Kosovo, providing residents with the services they need, and continuing with local elections to have political representation. Whether taking these measures within a formal autonomy framework or on an ad hoc basis, Kosovo should turn to supporting attitudes towards Serbian communities in the north. Further arming risks continuing instability, worsening relations with partners in Europe and the US, and even worse with neighbor Serbia. Pristina may find that in achieving its immediate goal - consolidating control over its territory - it has pushed the comprehensive goal of normalization even further out of reach. That is an outcome it can and should avoid," concludes the International Crisis Group report. -- http:www.antic.org --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SERBIAN NEWS NETWORK" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/senet/12b401da85a3%247292fcd0%2457b8f670%24%40gmail.com.
