Without an agreement with Pristina, there is no EU: What are our, and what are their RED LINES and how to reach an agreement?

The strategy for the enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans, which will be presented in Strasbourg, according to the announcements envisages a comprehensive legally binding agreement between Belgrade and Pristina. In the situation when they think in Pristina that the independence process is a finished story, and Belgrade not wanting to give up their territory, both of them have to be prepared for an agreement of they want compromise. However, both Belgrade and Pristina will have their "red lines" in the negotiation process.

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- They won't shy away when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija. I am prepared to do something which would be a compromise, but if someone thinks that Serbia will give everything, and remain with anything, they are mistaken - the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said, answering the questions of the reporters about inner dialogue with Kosovo and Metohija whether it is time-bound, and what compromise is Serbia prepared to make to reach the permanent solution.

European Union is also seeking a permanent solution. It is wanted for Belgrade and Pristina to conclude comprehensive, legally binding agreement on normalization of relationships. However, what does that mean, rarely anyone knows. Especially that there is no consensus within EU regarding Kosovo because five members didn't recognize the unilaterally declared independence.

Foto: Tanjug/Zoran Žestić

- It is very difficult to say what is a legally binding document because the EU member states do not have a consensus on this issue. But if they were at some point and when they presented it, we will state our opinion on it - Marko Djuric, Director of the Office for KiM, said to Telegraf.

Milovan Drecun, the president of the Parliamentary Committee for KiM, sees that red line in the yet undefined contract in the possible attempt to get recognition of this self-proclaimed state through it, he said.

- That is unacceptable and Serbia won't do it - Drecun was clear.

He said that the compromise has been achieved, by leading the conversations in Brussels in the status-neutral framework.

Printskrin: Telegraf

- These are not talks between the two countries but between Belgrade and Pristina. Some agreements have been reached and a dialogue should continue. All that is achieved within this dialogue will, in fact, be transposed into this legally binding agreement. But this agreement will not be signed by representatives of the two countries - noted the president of the Parliamentary Committee on Kosovo.

He points out that Kosovo is not a state, so in that sense, as he said, they can not deceive us, to sign this agreement as with some kind of state.

- On the other hand, there is a possibility to sit down at the table and for Belgrade and Pristina to solve the final status of Kosmet with the agreement, but not the way Pristina wants it. It is a done thing for them and Belgrade just has t0 accept the self-proclaimed state. That is not the solution, Belgrade won't accept that - Drecun said for Telegraf.

Printskrin: Tanjug

However, Pristina has its own conditions. As the former RTK correspondent said to our portal, Valjon Sulja, it is more than a "red line", Kosovo side has the goals regarding the dialogue with Belgrade.

- The aim of the official Pristina is to finish the dialogue with Belgrade as soon as possible so they can join the international institutions, like UN and EU, also other organizations where Kosovo is not a member yet - said this publicist and the publisher of "Gazeta Metro".

Foto: Privatna arhiva

According to him, "red lines" are recognition of Kosovo in the UN.

- It is expected from Serbia here at least not to interfere in the process. Recognizing the Recognizing the sovereignty and integrity of Kosovo and its symbols and the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations between Pristina and Belgrade will undoubtedly mean the classical recognition of Kosovo. But at least this recognition is expected to be a functional and factual recognition of the state of Kosovo (de facto) if the same cannot be called legal or classical recognition (de jure) - said Sulja.

Given that, that both sides have their expectations and "red lines", the question remains how to reach an agreement?

- With negotiation chapter 35 in the negotiations with EU, which is the case of Serbia regarding Kosovo, and it clearly indicates the direction in which it will go - Dragan Djukanovic, professor of political science faculty and vice president of the Center for Foreign Policy, said to Telegraf.

He said that the "red line" for Belgrade is, and which should be insisted on that there is no recognition of Kosovo.

Foto: Medija centar Beograd

- I think it won't go in that direction because five EU member states didn't recognize the self-proclaimed independence, and on the other side, EU treats Kosovo as a territory, and not as an independent state - Djukanovic mentioned.

He thinks that Pristina won't make their own demands, but they will reach certain solution thanks to the moderation of EU, which will consist of compromise between two sides and their requests.

- Regardless of the fact that we often hear the maximalist goals from Pristina, such as the unification with Albania, or that Serbia must recognize the independence of Kosovo, nothing will really happen, because this compromise solution will be on the line of precisely what the EU insists on, which is status-neutral agreement. But the agreement, which implies the establishment of cooperation between the two sides, which mutually don't recognize themselves - concluded Djukanovic.

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