What is behind the violence between Serbia and Kosovo? | Inside Story

Summary

Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo have escalated due to a dispute over car license plates, leading to roadblocks, armed attacks, and delayed local elections. The EU urges de-escalation as Serbia's president calls for calm. Kosovo, predominantly ethnic Albanian, declared independence in 2008, but Serbia and its ally Russia do not recognize it. The conflict is rooted in the failure to implement the Brussels Agreement, particularly the establishment of the Association of Serbian Municipalities. International mediation, including by the EU and the US, is crucial for a resolution, but accusations of proxy conflicts and geopolitical struggles complicate the path to normalization.

Takeaways

• 🚨 Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo have escalated due to a dispute over car license plates, leading to roadblocks, armed attacks, and delayed local elections.
• 🌐 The European Union is urging all parties to de-escalate the situation and is actively involved in negotiations to normalize relations between Serbia and Kosovo.
• 🏷️ The dispute began when Kosovo planned to ban Serbian license plates, which was met with resistance from the Serbian community in Kosovo.
• 🛑 Serbs in Kosovo's North blocked main roads in protest after the arrest of a former policeman, who was part of a group that resigned over the license plate issue.
• 🔍 Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vučić, has called for calm and has demanded the release of all Serbs arrested by Kosovo police.
• ⚖️ Kosovo's Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has accused Serbia of trying to destabilize the region and has called for NATO intervention.
• 🏛️ The issue is tied to broader geopolitical struggles, with some suggesting Serbia is acting as a proxy for Russia in the conflict.
• 🤝 There is a call for diplomacy and negotiations to resolve the conflict, with the involvement of the EU, the US, and other international actors.
• 🏢 The creation of an Association of Serbian Municipalities in Kosovo is a key point of contention and a potential solution to the ongoing disputes.
• 🌍 The recognition of Kosovo's independence by over 100 countries and the role of NATO peacekeepers in maintaining stability are significant factors in the region's dynamics.

Q & A

What is the recent dispute between Serbia and Kosovo about?

The recent dispute between Serbia and Kosovo is about car license plates. Kosovo's plan to ban Serbian license plates has led to Serbs blocking border crossings and protests, escalating the already strained relations between the two.

What triggered the tensions between Serbia and Kosovo?

The tensions were triggered by a dispute over car license plates, which led to roadblocks, armed attacks, and delayed local elections.

What is the historical context of the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo?

Kosovo used to be part of Serbia, but after a war in the late 1990s, it declared independence in 2008. Ethnic Albanians make up the majority of Kosovo's population, while ethnic Serbs form a minority and have felt marginalized.

What role is the European Union playing in the Serbia-Kosovo conflict?

The European Union is urging all parties to de-escalate and is involved in sponsoring talks between Serbia and Kosovo to normalize their relations.

How has the situation affected local elections in the region?

The situation has led to the postponement of local elections in certain municipalities in the north of Kosovo, which were supposed to take place on December 18th.

What measures have been taken by the international community to address the tensions?

NATO, the EU, and the United States have called for restraint from both parties and demanded the removal of barricades to allow for further work on a solution for the normalization of relations.

What are the main demands of the ethnic Serbs in Northern Kosovo?

Ethnic Serbs in Northern Kosovo demand the implementation of the Brussels Agreement, which includes the creation of an Association of Serbian Municipalities, and they oppose Kosovo's attempts to impose its authority without agreement.

What is the position of Serbia's president regarding the situation?

Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vucic, has called for calm and has blamed Kosovo for provoking the situation. He has also demanded the release of all Serbs arrested by Kosovo police.

How does Kosovo's prime minister view the role of Serbia in the current tensions?

Kosovo's prime minister, Albin Kurti, accuses Serbia of trying to destabilize the region and has called on NATO to step in and guarantee freedom of movement.

What are the broader geopolitical implications of the Serbia-Kosovo conflict?

The conflict is seen by some as a geopolitical struggle, with Serbia acting as a proxy for Russia, and Kosovo as an ally of the West. The situation is being closely watched by NATO and the EU, as it could potentially escalate into a larger conflict.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Kosovo-Serbia Tensions Escalate Over License Plate Dispute

The video script discusses the rising tensions between Serbia and Kosovo, triggered by a dispute over car license plates. This seemingly minor issue has led to roadblocks, armed attacks, and the delay of local elections. The European Union is urging de-escalation, while Serbia's President, Aleksandar Vučić, blames Kosovo for provoking the situation. The script highlights the ethnic tensions, with ethnic Albanians making up the majority in Kosovo and ethnic Serbs feeling marginalized. The situation has led to Serbs blocking border crossings and demands for the release of arrested Serbs by Kosovo police. The EU, United States, and NATO have called for restraint and the removal of barricades to facilitate further discussions on normalizing relations between Serbia and its former province, which declared independence in 2008.

05:02

🛑 Serbs in Northern Kosovo Protest Arrest of Police Officer

The second paragraph delves into the current situation in Northern Kosovo, where Serbs have barricaded roads leading to two border crossings with Serbia. This protest is in response to the arrest of a police officer by the Kosovo government, who is accused of an attack on a local election committee. The script explains that the situation is calm but tense, with local Serbs setting up tents and showing determination to continue the protest until the officer is released. The whereabouts of the officer are unknown due to the roadblocks. The discussion also touches on the broader implications of the Barrister Peace Accord and the refusal of Pristina authorities to implement certain aspects of it, leading to the current unrest.

10:04

🏛️ Geopolitical Struggle Behind Kosovo-Serbia License Plate Issue

Paragraph three explores the geopolitical aspects of the license plate dispute, suggesting that Serbia is acting as a proxy for Russia in an attempt to provoke a confrontation with NATO. The discussion highlights that Kosovo is a model of minority rights protection through its Constitution, and the current tensions are not just about license plates but are part of a broader geopolitical struggle. The script includes perspectives that Serbia is trying to undermine Kosovo's state-building project and that the international community, particularly the EU and the U.S., should be more involved in mediating the conflict and ensuring that Kosovo's sovereignty and independence are respected.

15:07

🤝 Calls for Diplomacy and Recognition of Kosovo's Independence

The fourth paragraph focuses on the need for diplomacy and recognition of Kosovo's independence as a solution to the ongoing conflict. It discusses the history of the conflict, the role of international actors, and the importance of respecting minority rights. The script includes arguments that Serbia should accept the reality of Kosovo's independence and that the international community should play a more active role in facilitating dialogue and negotiations between the two sides. There is also a mention of the Association of Serbian Municipalities and the need for a compromise that respects the rights and autonomy of ethnic Serbs in Kosovo.

20:07

🔄 Path to Final Agreement Between Kosovo and Serbia

The final paragraph discusses the steps needed for a final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia to end the long-standing conflict. It emphasizes the need for Serbia to fulfill international obligations, including the creation of an Association of Serbian Municipalities in Northern Kosovo. The script also touches on the importance of symmetry and reciprocity, suggesting that Albanian municipalities in the Presheva Valley should also have extensive autonomy. The discussion includes calls for increased involvement from the U.S. in leading negotiations and the need for all sides to accommodate the demands of citizens to move forward with a democratic and rights package.

Keywords

💡Tensions

Tensions refer to the heightened state of strain in relations between Serbia and Kosovo, as discussed in the video transcript. The video highlights the recent escalation due to disputes over car license plates, which has led to roadblocks, armed attacks, and the delay of local elections. This term is central to understanding the current political climate between the two regions and the challenges they face in maintaining peace and stability.

💡Car License Plates Dispute

The car license plates dispute is a significant point of contention between Serbia and Kosovo, as mentioned in the script. It involves a conflict over the recognition of car license plates issued by each side, which has become a symbol of the broader struggle for sovereignty and recognition of statehood. The dispute has practical implications, such as impeding freedom of movement, and serves as a metaphor for the unresolved issues between the two nations.

💡Roadblocks

Roadblocks, as referenced in the transcript, are physical barriers erected by Serbs in Kosovo's North to protest against perceived injustices and to impede the movement of people and goods. They are a tactic used in the ongoing conflict and symbolize the division and resistance to authority. The roadblocks are a manifestation of the larger political tensions and have practical consequences on the ground, affecting daily life and the movement of people.

💡Armed Attacks

Armed attacks, as alluded to in the video, are acts of violence involving weapons that have occurred in the context of the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo. These attacks contribute to the escalation of tensions and undermine the efforts towards peace and stability in the region. They are a critical aspect of the security situation and a significant concern for all parties involved, including local populations and international peacekeeping forces.

💡Delayed Local Elections

The delay of local elections in certain areas of Kosovo, as mentioned in the script, is a consequence of the ongoing political crisis and a reflection of the instability in the region. The postponement affects the democratic process and the ability of local communities to be governed effectively. It also signifies the broader challenges in implementing governance and maintaining civic order amidst the disputes between Serbia and Kosovo.

💡European Union

The European Union, as discussed in the transcript, is an international organization involved in mediating and providing support for the resolution of conflicts, such as the one between Serbia and Kosovo. The EU's role is crucial in facilitating dialogue, encouraging de-escalation, and promoting policies that foster peace and stability. The video underscores the EU's efforts to mediate and find a path towards normalization of relations between the two sides.

💡Ethnic Albanians

Ethnic Albanians, as highlighted in the video, constitute a significant majority in Kosovo and are a key demographic in the region's political landscape. Their aspirations for self-determination and statehood are central to the conflict with Serbia. Understanding the ethnic Albanians' perspective is essential for grasping the complexities of the Kosovo-Serbia tensions and the quest for a resolution that respects the rights and aspirations of all ethnic groups.

💡Ethnic Serbs

Ethnic Serbs, as mentioned in the script, are a minority group in Kosovo that predominantly support Serbia's claim over the region. They have been involved in protests and resistance against Kosovo's independence measures. The situation of ethnic Serbs is indicative of the broader challenges in ensuring minority rights and achieving reconciliation in the region.

💡Normalization of Relations

Normalization of relations, as discussed in the video, refers to the process of establishing stable, peaceful, and diplomatic ties between Serbia and Kosovo. This is a key goal for both countries as they seek to resolve their differences and move towards greater integration with international communities, such as the European Union. Achieving normalization is contingent upon addressing the core issues that fuel tensions and finding mutually acceptable solutions.

💡Independence

Independence, as a keyword in the context of the video, signifies Kosovo's declaration as a sovereign state, which is not recognized by Serbia. The concept of independence is central to understanding the political dynamics at play and the aspirations of the Kosovo government and its supporters. The recognition of Kosovo's independence by various countries and the ongoing dispute with Serbia are key elements of the broader geopolitical narrative in the region.

Highlights

Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo have intensified due to a dispute over car license plates.

The dispute has led to roadblocks, armed attacks, and delayed local elections.

The European Union is urging all parties to de-escalate the situation.

Kosovo was part of Serbia, but 92% of its population are ethnic Albanians, with ethnic Serbs making up around 6%.

Serbs began blocking border crossings after the arrest of a former policeman.

Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vučić, calls for calm and not falling for provocations.

Kosovo police came under small arms fire, and a stun grenade was thrown at an EU mission car.

The EU, United States, and NATO have asked for restraint from both parties and demanded the removal of barricades.

Kosovo's prime minister, Albin Kurti, accuses Serbia of trying to destabilize the region and calls for NATO intervention.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 after a war that killed at least 13,000 people.

The EU has been sponsoring talks between Serbia and Kosovo since 2013, but progress has been minimal.

The core issue is the refusal of Kosovo authorities to implement the Brussels Agreement fully.

The Association of Serbian Municipalities is a point of contention and a key to resolving the conflict.

The situation in Northern Kosovo is tense, with Serbs barricading roads and schools closed.

The license plate issue is a symbol of Serbia's rule in Kosovo during the 90s and a point of Serbian resistance.

The geopolitical struggle involves Serbia acting as a proxy for Russia, according to some analysts.

The situation is complex, with historical, political, and ethnic factors contributing to the ongoing conflict.

The international community, including the EU and the U.S., is urged to play a more active role in resolving the dispute.

Transcripts

tensions between Serbia and Kosovo

intensified triggered by a dispute over

car license plates it's led to

roadblocks armed attacks and delayed

local elections what's the bigger issue

at play here and can the two sides find

a way forward this is Inside Story

[Music]

hello there and welcome to the program

I'm Laura Kyle what appears to be a

simple dispute about car license plates

has Amplified already strained relations

between Serbia and Kosovo the European

Union is urging all parties to

de-escalate Kosovo used to be part of

Serbia but ethnic albanians make up 92

percent of the 1.8 million people who

live there around six percent are ethnic

Serb and they say they've been

marginalized serbs began blocking border

crossings on Saturday after the arrest

of a former policeman he was one of 600

officers who resigned last month in

protest against kosovo's Plans to ban

Serbian license plates Serbia's

president Alexandra buchett blames

Kosovo for provoking the situation

today at the meeting we discussed what

we have to do what is important is that

we appeal to albanians and to serbs to

preserve peace to calm the situation I

appeal to serbs in Northern Kosovo and

matohia to be calm and not to fall for

provocations

our correspondent oglin zorich reports

from Belgrade

serbs from kosovo's North are still

blocking main roads in that region using

trucks buses and heavy machinery in the

same time Kosovo police is keeping close

the two main border crossings between

Kosovo North and Serbia tangents are

very high and the schools in Northern

Kosovo today are closed here in Belgrade

Serbian National Security Council held a

crisis session but president of Serbia

Alexander voltage declined to elaborate

on the adopted steps he said instead

that Serbia demands the release of all

serbs arrested by Kosovo police serbs

blocked main roads on Saturday after the

arrest of the former policeman Kosovo

police later came under Small Arms fire

in several locations and the stun

grenade was thrown at a car of the EU

mission in Kosovo but there were no

injuries reported voltage claims that

Serbia seeks to diffuse tensions and

underlined that Kosovo service must not

engaged in the violence against NATO

troops and members of the European Union

Mission there the EU United States and

NATO asked for Restraint of both parties

and demanded the removal of barricades

so that Belgrade and Pristina can

continue further work on a solution for

the normalization of their relations of

Serbia and its former province that

declared independence in 2008.

in Belgrade for Inside Story

on kosovo's prime minister Alan Curtis

accuses Serbia of trying to destabilize

the region he's asked NATO to step in

we call once again on the NATO

peacekeeping mission in Kosovo to

guarantee freedom of movement the

peacekeeping mission in Kosovo is

supposed to create a calm and safe

environment which also means to have

freedom of movement the blocking of

public roads with heavy machinery by

criminal gangs that shot Ed police

officers is not acceptable and should

not be repeated again in the future we

are waiting

well Kosovo declared independence from

Serbia in 2008 10 years after a war

killed at least 13 000 people the U.S

and major EU countries recognized

kosovo's Breakaway but Serbia refuses to

do so kosovo's membership of the UN is

blocked by Serbia's Ally Russia around 4

000 NATO peacekeepers remain on the

ground after the alliance intervened to

end the conflict in 1999. the EU began

sponsoring talks between the two sides

in 2013 but they've made little progress

resolving the conflict is one of the

main conditions for both countries to

join the Bloc

foreign

of the board of Association of

journalists of Kosovo in Belgrade we

have dark code trifunovich director of

The Institute for National and

International Security and in New York

David L Phillips director of the program

on peace building and rights at Columbia

University a very warm welcome to all of

you Jamal let's start with what's been

happening in Northern Kosovo there's a

lot of tension that's been building up

what's the situation at the moment

thank you for having me uh Laura as we

speak it is the third day that the serbs

have barricaded the uh roads that lead

to uh two Crosser borders between

um Crossing border between Kosovo and

Serbia they have set up 10th and Monday

is a day off at schools hundreds of

local serbs have uh overnight good tents

as well in order to protest the arrest

of a police officer who Kosovo

government says is responsible for an

attack that happened during the weekend

at the offices of a local election

committee which was preparing everything

for the 18th of December local

inductions in their fourth

municipalities in the north of Kosovo

which were postponed to their protests

of service

the situation is relatively calm but

head of circus so which is the political

party which runs the fourth formula

spouse in the north today

was visiting the uh the sites of the

berican and he said that the local ships

are ready to stay there as long as it

takes uh until this uh former police

officer is released his whereabouts are

unknown because of the blocking of the

Rose he was not able to be brought to a

police station

in in mitrovita by Kosovo police so he's

being held for 48 hours now somewhere at

the uh border between Kosovo Serbia okay

um darker we've got the Kosovo prime

minister uh sounding pretty fed up with

the situation they're saying that he

wants NATO peacekeeping make a lead

peacekeeping forces to remove the

barricades that the serbs have set up

but how is that likely to further

exacerbate the situation

well I think that it will just uh

increase the level of violence but let's

come back to the origin of the of the

problem it's basically Bissell Bristol

peace Accord and the refusal of uh uh

authorities in Pristina to implement uh

so it's called a society of the Serbian

municipality so that is the core of the

of the problem and I hope that we will

have a more diplomacy in the future and

you can see now the consequence of the

lack of International Community

particularly European Union negotiators

to bring two sites on a table and to

clearly said to clearly stated who

actually did not feel full Bristol uh

peace Accord and then we will have much

more clear situation obviously

everyone's living in a balcony need

peace we need Prosperity we need

Integrations and every and everything

and the most difficult situation arise

when we don't know each other this kind

kind of the connections between Belgrade

and pristine academic so it's scientific

and many other connections are breaking

up and we hope in the future that we

will have a better situation there okay

are you broadened out the discussion

quite significantly there but before we

do get to those bigger broad brush

issues Docker what is the situation

exactly right now why are serbs ethnic

serbs in Northern Kosovo so unhappy

because uh Pristina did not Implement

fully Bristol peace Accord and Christina

did not organize and allow the Society

of Serbian municipality and they sang

International contract but they said

this is not allowed by constitution of

Kosovo and this is a very problematic

because International obligations is

above any Nationals so obviously there

is a

so far from the Serbian side that is

exactly what I learned from our Serbian

fellows in in the northern northern

Kosovo that there is no uh this Society

of Serbian communities that Mr korti and

the government in in bristina will not

do this so that is the main reasons for

for uh for Revelation and protest okay

David do you agree with that yes

absolutely can I jump there a bit so uh

let's see what the customer side of it

if I cancel the the latest protest of

service began

in this September when Kosovo government

decided that they have to switch from

what custom government deems an illegal

car plates which are issued by Serbia

and they have to have new license plate

which are issued by authorities in

Pristina because obviously Kosovo is an

independent state with its borders and

everyone living here because of

government claims should have uh the

same car place so this car place that

people in Northern of Kosovo were using

for this 23 years after the war were

issued by a Miller service time the

regime era actually they are they bear

the names of Kosovo cities like

others and they are a sign of of Serbia

rule in Kosovo during the 90s so it was

a greeting process as well but Serbia

didn't

want to implement this part of the

agreement including the IDS uh all

customer service have to have their new

ideas which are with Kosovo issued by

customer authorities so a deal was

reached because every time a cost of

Albanian goes to Serbia you would have a

special uh sheet of paper in which

Serbia would say that they don't

recognize Kosovo so you could only enter

in Serbia with that paper so Kosovo

wanted to do the same for Serbia

visitors coming to Kosovo but then they

agreed that no part will know state

would issue those sheet of papers but

then the car plates was something that

serves a pose they don't want to have

their cards with Kosovo state of Kosovo

signs so it led them to Kosovo kind of

Kosovo government saying that they will

issue fines they will confiscate the

cars but then after International

pressure Kosovo gave up and it postponed

indefinitive research are still able to

have those uh those cars okay and then

all no just just let me just bring in

David at this point

we've got the license place issue and I

want to get an idea from David what the

situation really is there because at the

end of November there was an agreement

the two sides came together and formed

an agreement over that so just give us

an update from the outside perspective

as to where we are actually at with this

license plate issue

but the discussion about the ASM is fake

news

sir Kosovo is a model of minority rights

through its Constitution by adopting the

adasari principles during negotiations

What's Happening Here is that Serbia is

looking to provoke a confrontation and

it's not acting on its own Serbia is

acting as a proxy of Russia

by involving nato in the dispute uh it's

trying to broaden the conflict

we need to understand this in broader

geopolitical terms uh kasova is an ally

of the West uh it would not exist

without NATO's military intervention

Russia wants to cancel that and to

create a new front in its confrontation

with NATO and mitrovica as a convenient

spot

for escalating tensions

it's important that we step back that we

take a deep breath and we recognize that

kosova is Sovereign and independent it's

been recognized by more than 100

countries Serbia needs to accept the

fact that it lost casova because of its

crimes okay and it's never going back

under Serbia's control okay if we do

just take I'll give you a second in a

moment I just want to just put this kind

of conversation

because EU Joseph Burrell was pretty

angry with the kosovan Prime Minister

for raising this issue given that it is

so sensitive he was angry with him that

he raised it at this time and caused

these tensions why did Kosovo insist on

causing these tensions

okay it's about sovereignty and control

it's really not about license plates

Serbia has consistently rejected or

stonewalled all the agreements that were

reached through the Brussels dialogue uh

it wants to undermine the state building

project in Kosovo and it wants to uh

give the United States a black eye

because the U.S is the primary backer of

kosovo's Independence so let's not make

a mistake and focus on license plates or

diplomas or area codes this is a

geopolitical struggle with Serbia acting

as Russia's agent China

I think he would agree you you would

agree there that this is a geopolitical

struggle that this issue is about

something much bigger than license

plates but do you accept that Serbia as

Russia are acting as a as a proxy for

Russia

yeah but first of all this kind of the

uh very uh this kind of rhetorics will

not bring us to peace we need the

situation to come down and if we use

this as an argument that Serbia is a

proxy of Russia then and that way Kosovo

is proxy of United States so what we do

have a war I disagree completely with

this and of course there is nothing in

Crystal peace Accord

regarding IDs and carpets everything

started when uh government in bristina

raised this issue without finalizing

municipality or serbians it's called

Society of Serbian municipality so I ask

you please come down we need diplomacy

we don't need this rhetorics from 90s

etc etc because that will not bring us

nowhere what we need now it's more

European Union presence negotiations and

let's put two sides on the table and

let's add agreed who did not or who feel

full Brussels Pizza Court obviously if I

can just jump in there because the

problem is does the Serbian president

agree with you I mean is he following

that advice as well because he's gone

and requested for Serbian police to be

stationed in Northern Kosovo he knows

that that's not going to happen but it's

only going to inflame the situation

isn't it

okay if at least this is very simple

who started issue with carpets and this

is not there is not even sentence what

our friend from Pristina uh he has said

nothing in Bristol peace Accord State

about ID or calculate so it is Pristina

initiate it is provocative language but

I don't want to blame no one I want as I

said let's talk let's agree let's calm

down situation let's not call each other

us Russia whatever proxies let's

talk and find out Solutions and I think

without this even European Union

recognize even uh Mr uh a special Envoy

of United States

I think he also recognized that

Christina did something that it should

not that's why there is a pressure on

Pristina not to not to impose a fully uh

decision on carpets Etc without

consultation without any pre-order

agreement Etc tomato except that it is

pretty difficult for some 50 000 ethnic

serbs to live in Kosovo given the

history I've lived my whole life in

Kosovo a part of the time when I was a

refugee as a teenager and I was made a

refugee because of the Serbian

aggression uh against Kosovo and I've

been living here close to our Serbian

neighbors for many years we are the

association of generosity of Kosovo work

closely with our Serbian colleagues uh

not just in northern part of Kosovo but

other parts of as well uh when custom

declared independence in 2008 according

to an accessory plan which was the

mediator between Kosovo and Serbia it

took obligation to respect minority

rights certain languages and official

language in Kosovo even though just four

percent of the population is is Serbian

uh their Heritage sites have been lately

uh guarded they've been all uh of this

year's Garden by NATO uh and by NATO

troops I know there's a lot of work to

do generally not just research but what

everyone living in Kosovo when it comes

to economy Endeavors but I think this uh

not accepting the reality which is that

cos always an independence day makes it

hard uh for for serbs to live their link

with Belgrade uh the fact that they uh

are ruled here by uh political party

which wins 96 of the vote and which is

directly linked with Mr vusi in Serbia

which is the country that didn't align

its foreign policy with um with EU when

it comes to Russia it makes it difficult

for them to integrate into society and

David do you think those ethnic serbs in

cost are being let down by Serbian

leaders in Belgrade

more than let down they're being

manipulated

their cannon fodder in a broader

conflict let's remember that Mr vucich

was milosevic's chief propagandist

and he's now continuing the milosevic

agenda to establish a greater Serbia by

seizing control of territories where

serbs live

today uh especially with European

integration

this is increasingly less important

what's important is international

standards a Bill of Rights minority

rights cassava is a an example of a

country which has fully embraced

minority rights protections and

promotions for its ethnic Serb citizens

instead of trying to upset relations uh

the Serbia should withdraw these

barricades

customer service should find ways of

interacting with their counterparts

Kosovo albanians I'm proud that my

family has sponsored a library in

mitrovica where Kosovo serves and Kosovo

albanians can come together and meet and

cooperate my teenage daughters were

involved in that project there's no

reason why people can't get along unless

they're manipulated by external forces

Darko what will it take for the leaders

in Belgrade for Serbia to recognize

Kosovo as an independent nation

agreement first of all Kosovo was never

independent it's a sovereign part of

Serbian territory and it's not only

Russia but also China blocking and many

European countries like Spain Romania

Cyprus Greece they don't recognize

Kosovo independence without prior

agreement with Serbia so if we talk if

we talk about background on politicians

so we can talk about Adam dimachi who

was a spiritually father of Alvin kurti

and Adam dimachi is a deep Russian spy

he passed away he was spiritually father

of Albin courti so if we talk about

background and past that will not bring

us nowhere so you have to think about

the future

this kind of memory is

coming from a distinguished speaker from

U.S okay you'll never never bring us

Darko

what does what needs to happen for a

final agreement to occur between Kosovo

and Serbia because that's the only

solution that is going to work here

that's going to end 20 years of conflict

Ina has to feel full International

obligation that means create creation of

a society of Serbian municipality and

that's it

and setups will have autonomous place

there Serbian municipalities in Northern

Kosovo yeah yeah it is it's not called

Society it's called Association of of

Serbian municipalities it is an

agreement that was signed back in 2013

By Coastal and Serbia and Brussels then

in 2015 there was a new agreement as

well it was taken at the Constitutional

Court of Kosovo because the agreement

says that it should have the opinion of

the Constitutional Court the

Constitutional Court decided the 23 of

the Articles out of Psalm 27 go against

the Constitution but the Constitutional

courts had said it should be created so

all these years the discussion here was

how it should be created not to be

something similar to replica in uh in

Bossier which would make Kosovo a

dysfunctional state so that's the

discussion uh everyone knows here Laura

in Kosovo that we have to do a

compromise Kosovo has to do a compromise

in order to reach this final uh Serbia

it would mean giving greater autonomy to

uh customer service even greater than

the one that is already with the

anti-story package which was the basis

of Kosovo declaring independence in 2000

and they enclosed coordination with the

Democratic world meaning U.S uh UK

Germany and other countries David what

steps are actually being taken to try to

reach this final agreement this lasting

solution is the EU as the U.S the UK all

these countries are they involved enough

in making this happen

no they're not involved enough and the

architecture of mediation that puts the

EU front and center is flawed there will

be no deal between Serbia and Kosovo

unless the U.S is a co-chair and leading

the negotiations instead of deferring to

the EU the U.S has to step up and it

needs to make its positions clear each

to knock some heads together so we can

get to a deal and let me just say a word

about the association of Serbian

municipalities

it was agreed to it should be

implemented but in this case there

should be Symmetry and reciprocity in

Serbia in the prasheva valley where you

have Albanian municipalities it too

should have extensive autonomy and

cultural and political rights the only

way we're going to get to an agreement

is if we see all sides prepared to

accommodate the demands of uh of

citizens and move forward with the

Democratic and rights package absolutely

okay well I'm afraid our time is up I'm

sure we will be revisiting this topic

again to see the discussion moving

forward thank you very much today to all

our guests for joining us jamalreja doco

trifunovich and David L Phillips

and thank you too for watching you can

see the program again anytime by

visiting our website that's altazira.com

and for further discussion do go to our

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also join the conversation on Twitter

our handlers at AJ inside story from me

Laura Kyle and the whole team here it's

bye for now

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