Janjic: The situation in north of Kosovo can be used by Serbian paramilitary formations

Dusan Janjic of the Forum for Ethnic Relations told Novi dan that the crisis in Kosovo will not be resolved soon, but will continue for a long time. “The most important thing for the survival of an unstable peace is to solve the problem of paramilitaries, crime, freedom of movement and unilateral moves”, Janjic stressed, adding that it is necessary to hold new elections in Kosovo with the participation of Serbs in order to normalize the situation.

A new round of dialogue between Vucic and Kurti yesterday in Brussels had half the effect. At the very beginning of the talks, a declaration on missing persons was adopted. In it, the two sides pledge to do their utmost to resolve the fate of the more than 1 600 people who disappeared during the war in Kosovo. The talks on the formation of the Association of Serb Municipalities, however, did not go so smoothly. Nevertheless, Josep Borel argues that a major step has been taken towards the creation of the Association of Serb Municipalities. What makes Brussels so optimistic? How much longer can Pristina delay the formation of the Association of Serb Municipalities?

“A plan has been presented for the return of Serbs to the institutions. As we have heard from President Vucic, there has been no agreement on this, but he is ready to sit down with Kurti again in three or four days’ time and talk. But let’s be blunt – we are talking about how to get out of the institutional and security vacuum that was created when the Serbian List left the institutions”, Janjić said.

After that, the N1 interlocutor recalls, Pristina, with the support of the Quint countries, started unilateral measures, one of which was the mayoral elections. He estimates that it will not be easy and quick, but it is a condition, because “the security hole needs to be filled”.

He points out that while talks are taking place on the return of Serbs to the judicial and political institutions, flags are being changed at police stations and a opening of the bridge.

“The opening of the bridge between north and south Mitrovica was planned earlier, but it was not the ‘right time’. It has more symbolic meaning and is a reminder of a terrible time”, Janjic said, adding that “paramilitary formations, if they exist on the Serbian side, can use it”, noting that “this needs to be cleared up”.

He believes that the political situation is balanced after the last elections, as this was preceded by the withdrawal of Serbs from Kosovo’s institutions.

Janjic stated that Vucic and Kurti are pursuing a policy of procrastination, but also that “they are both buying time”.

He assesses that “there is noise in the Vucic-Washington relationship”, noting that this has been evident recently.

Commenting on Kurti’s statement that the Draft Association of Serb Municipalities is “contrary to the Constitution of Kosovo”, he said the Prime Minister of Kosovo was “making it up”.

“The most important thing for the survival of an unstable peace is to solve the problems of paramilitaries, crime, freedom of movement and unilateral moves”, Janjic stressed, adding that it is necessary to hold new elections in Kosovo with the participation of Serbs in order to normalize the situation.

Asked when the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina would end, he jokingly commented that he had black hair when the negotiations started, but now it is grey, and that he hoped this would not be the case with the representatives of Belgrade and Pristina./N1/