Kipred: Russia does not want the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to end successfully

2024-03-01 19:12:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

In a study published by the Kosovo Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED) it is emphasized that Russia does not see the process of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia as an isolated one as it has geopolitical goals in the Balkan region and for hindering the integration of the region in Euro-Atlantic institutions.

The report entitled "Russia's Influence on the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue", states that Russia does not want the dialogue to end successfully and in accordance with the projects of Western countries.

"The lack of unanimity within the Euro-Atlantic community towards Kosovo, with five EU countries still not recognizing Kosovo's independence, has created more room for maneuver for Russia to thwart Western efforts and engage with persistence in destroying the foundations of Kosovo's citizenship and destabilizing the region", the study states.

According to the study, Russia, which continues to oppose Kosovo's independence, aims to destroy the foundations of its statehood, to invalidate Western policies towards the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, and possibly move the dialogue to the United Nations.

" This means the direct regaining of an active role of Moscow in this process. To strengthen Russia's role in the Balkans, and especially through maintaining Russian influence in Serbia, and among anti-Western actors in the region. To accumulate benefits in Ukraine and Georgia, through transactional policies in which Kosovo will be used as a currency of exchange ", the study of the Kipred Institute emphasizes.

According to the study, since the beginning of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia in 2011, official Moscow has tried in several cases to erode the role of the European Union in facilitating them and has expressed continuous support for Serbia.

"The Balkans remains the only geopolitical space in Europe that is not fully integrated into Western structures and that still has a silent destabilizing potential for the entire Euro-Atlantic security architecture. Against this background, the military aggression that Putin has launched against Ukraine has caused an unprecedented tension between the Russian Federation and the US and major European countries. Meanwhile, the ignition of such a powerful rivalry between Russia and the Western powers inevitably has a very large reflection in the Western Balkans as well", the study states.

Belgrade, supported by Moscow, opposes the independence of Kosovo that was declared in February 2008 with the support of the United States and the main countries of the European Union, but it is included in the dialogue for the normalization of relations with Pristina.

The leaders of Kosovo and Serbia agreed a year ago on a Western-backed agreement to normalize relations, but without signing it. The agreement does not include mutual recognition, although it is required that the parties respect each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity./ VOA