European Forum

Serbia looking for compromise on Kosovo

Cracks in Serbia's long-uncompromising position on Kosovo appeared on the weekend as Serbia’s President Boris Tadic said Serbia is open to discussing a compromise over its UN General Assembly (UN GA) resolution.

In July, following an advisory ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Kosovo's 2008 unilateral declaration of independence was not in violation of international law, Belgrade submitted a resolution with the UN GA declaring "unilateral secession is not an acceptable way to solve territorial issues" and calling for a "mutually acceptable solution to all open issues". A success for Serbia in the GA would only be a moral victory, as the resolution is non-binding, but many EU capitals are unhappy with the route Belgrade has chosen.

Seeking “acceptable changes”
Earlier last week, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle bluntly told Serbia: "Kosovar independence is a reality," and: "The map of South-eastern Europe has been laid down and completed." He also suggested that Belgrade's acquiescence on this fact was necessary before Serbia could join the EU, despite five existing member states refusing to recognise the breakaway region. On  28 August, however, president Tadic said that Serbian officials are to head to Brussels to "talk about possible changes to the draft resolution that would be acceptable to both Serbia and big powers." He said that Belgrade is looking for a compromise "that will remain in line with Serbia's national interests but will also please big powers". He added, however: "Serbia will never recognise Kosovo. That is a red line that we will not cross," Tadic's comments echo those of other members of the governing coalition. The Serbian Renewal Movement and G17 Plus two weeks ago called for changes to the resolution to assure that it is in line with an EU perspective. "It would be better to change the text and garner the support of as many EU member countries as possible, rather than go after the votes of the non-aligned [in the UN GA]," G17 Plus Deputy President Suzana Grubjesic said.

The resolution also calls for fresh talks between Belgrade and Pristina without referring to Kosovo's status. Kosovo for its part has said it would accept a dialogue with Belgrade, but only one that does not question its independence. On 26 August, the International Crisis Group, a think-tank with considerable clout on the world stage, issued a report suggesting that one possible solution for breaching the impasse could be a land-swap between the two sides, in which Serb-dominated northern Kosovo is traded for parts of Serbia's Presevo Valley, home to many Albanians. On 27 August, however, Kosovo's PM Hashim Thaci rejected the suggestion, while Oliver Ivanovic, Serbia's Minister for Kosovar affairs, said such a move was out of the question, telling international reporters that northern Kosovo is already under "de facto and de jure control of the Serbian community, and there is no reason to contemplate any exchanges."

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague is scheduled to visit Belgrade on 31 August to discuss the issue. Representatives of the Serbian Foreign Ministry and advisers from the office of the Serbian President are also scheduled to travel to Brussels to meet EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton.


Sources: Balkan Insight; EU Observer