A plan of Angela Merkel for Kosovo: Community of Serb Municipalities, plus recognition of current state and the grand final in 20 years

Although the official dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is led by the European Union, it is clear that without the blessing of its most powerful member - Germany, it can not be achieved. The talks entered the final phase, however, at least in public, there is still no final proposal for an agreement on the normalization of relations. As Telegraf.rs exclusively finds out from sources in the European People's Party (EPP), whose group belongs to the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, she has prepared her plan for Kosovo and presented it to her colleagues from the Balkans.

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Germany has stated that it opposes changing the borders or any kind of division between Kosovo and Belgrade. However, according to the details of Angela Merkel's plan, the division at the end of the entire process is nevertheless possible.

Namely, as our portal finds out in the ranks of the EPP, the German Chancellor's plan should be implemented in the short and medium term.

In the first phase, the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM) should be formed first of all, which Merkel insisted on during the last meeting with Kosovo President Hashim Thaci.

Foto: Tanjug/AP

She realizes that it is not acceptable for Serbs for CSM to be at the level of non-governmental organizations, which is the goal of Pristina, Merkel's plan is to give the Community more power, the so-called "CSM plus". In order for the community to have a real function, other organs should be formed so it can cooperate with Serbia. With this, it would have the true strength and it could ease the lives of citizens.

On the other hand, the plan of the German Chancellor would support the verification of the situation on the ground, i.e. recognition without recognition. With this, we would reach to the biggest part of the phrase "a comprehensive normalization of relations": Belgrade would agree to "recognize reality, but not independence," while Pristina would be satisfied not to be disturbed in its attempts to become a member of international institutions. 

Foto: Telegraf

As the EPP sources told us, the mentioned elements of the plan would include the first phase, which would be implemented in the short term.

Then there is a big finale, which should happen in 20 years. 

After that period, a referendum on secession would be held in the Community of Serb Municipalities, which would create a real chance that the part of Kosovo where the majority Serb population lives will return under the effective authority of Belgrade.

Foto: Tanjug/Zoran Zestic

We recall that the Brussels agreement intends to include in CSM the municipalities of North Kosovska Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Leposavic, Zvecan, Strpce, Klokot, Gracanica, Novo Brdo, Ranilug, and Partes.  Six out of ten of these municipalities lean on the administrative line with central Serbia, while Strpce, Klokot, Partes, and Gracanica enclaves are surrounded with places that have Albanian majority.

Vucic talked with Merkel several times about Kosovo:

(Telegraf.co.uk / M.Ivas / marko.ivas@telegraf.co.uk)