On March 3, Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS) organized a Roundtable Discussion on the topic: “Dialogue under the Kurti Government: the future of the process, challenges and opportunities for a final agreement”, aiming to discuss the main developments of the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia under the leadership of the Kurti II government, the proposal put forward during this period, as well as to deconstruct its continuation in the prism of international and regional developments.

At the beginning of the discussion, Deputy PM Mr. Bislimi presented the government’s position in the dialogue. Mr. Bislimi stressed that the Dialogue must be based on certain principles, and that the parties must be equally represented at the negotiating table. “Whenever we encountered unequal approach, we were determined to establish the principle of reciprocity which clearly showed at the negotiating table”, he stated. Furthermore, Mr. Bislimi stated that they are conducting an internal dialogue with the local Serbian community. To conclude, he stressed that the legally binding agreement with mutual recognition with Serbia is the ultimate goal, and that the government is working to frame the final negotiations around this goal.

On the other hand, Mr. Beqaj pointed out that the government’s approach to this process has been unrealistic and politically wrong. He stated that the government has also shown legal irresponsibility in the Dialogue by alluding to non-implementation of some agreements. Mr. Beqaj stressed with concern the existence of parallel structures in Kosovo.

Whereas, Mrs. Arbëresha Loxha-Stublla, Executive Director of the GLPS welcomed the government’s approach in pushing forward the principle of reciprocity in the Dialogue with Serbia, which is a common standard of relations between independent and sovereign states. “It is also to be welcomed that there is an increased caution in engaging in dialogue, because Kosovo’s haste in the past has cost us many agreements that are not only harmful but constitute obstacles to the integration of Serbs in the institutions of our country”, stated Ms. Loxha-Stublla. In addition, she pointed out the need to move from negotiating agreements on technical matters to a chapter of the final agreement. “The process must be focused on mutual recognition; rather than simply hoping that the end of the process will bring recognition. Attention and care are required in this framework, because the risk of misuse of Serbia is very high”, concluded Ms. Loxha-Stublla.

GLPS also presented the platform for dialogue that highlights the minimum expectations from this process, and the red lines that should not be crossed in dialogue by Kosovo. The proposed platform can be accessed here.

Panelists:

Mr. Besnik BISLIMI – First Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Development and Dialogue;

Mr. Belul BEQAJ – Political Scientist

Ms. Arberesha LOXHA STUBLLA – Executive Director, Group for Legal and Political Studies.

Venue: Hotel Swiss Diamond (Blvd. Mother Theresa, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo)