For years, Serbia is not prepared to recognise the independence of its former province of Kosovo. Now there is open talk about a possible exchange of territory as a solution. A real opportunity, says Wolfgang Petritsch.
Kosovo: Since 10 years, independent, but not recognized by all
Deutsche Welle: you have talked about very early on, even in a DW Interview at the beginning of this year about the possibility of border changes between Kosovo and Serbia, and so a sort of taboo committed. Why?
Wolfgang Petrisch: Over the many years, which is now sponsored by the dialogue of the EU between Belgrade and Pristina, have been discussed in various variants. All in All, the principle has been taken into account to modify any of the limits. Now, it has developed in the course of this year, obviously, in the dialogue in Brussels in a new Situation. It is leaked that the have to discuss both presidents an exchange of territory or envisaged. My first Reflex was: this contradicts The long-standing principle, to leave the boundaries that exist until now, unchanged. On the other hand, the impression was but then, for the first Time in the history of the Balkans, the attempt is made to change the boundaries in a bloody way, with weapons and one-sided, but in a peaceful way, through negotiations, a compromise. And that gave me the rash, to say: This proposal should look at the European Union very carefully. We have been calling for for years, especially with my so-called “Ownership principle” in Bosnia-Herzegovina: This is your country, see if you can solve your own problems, in the country itself, but also with the neighboring States. Now, I am in favour of the responsibility of the politicians, if you make such a proposal, is very important and we take this seriously, because we know from Bosnia that all imposed solutions work so far.
What should happen after your assessment of now, this process move forward?
I think that you should look at the things carefully and the pros and cons just weigh. Above all, it is important to me that the people directly affected, the citizens are involved on both sides of the border as well. I think of Referendums or plebiscites, or whatever the instruments are, of course, parliaments. It is, therefore, to the whole democratic process is adhered to. And because I have great confidence in the EU, that they will make sure that something like this happens.
Wolfgang Petritsch, former. The high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
The second point I think is very important that against the Background of the bloody experience of the nineties, a sort of proactive measures that prevent the citizens concerned are then in a Situation where you have your Land, your house, your village or your city have to leave or want to. Of course, there are big risks, big risks, but you can anticipate.
The third point is that If there is a solution, that would be the last of the great historical conflict on the territory of the former Yugoslavia, the conflict between the Serbs and the Albanians, settled. That would be, so to speak, the beginning, the Start to a positive future.
Two weighty arguments by the critics of marginal changes in the field: firstly, there should be no ethnic solutions to border demarcation and secondly, the fear of a Domino effect. What do you say to that?
I can say this: the first is certainly a reasonable and understandable concern, because as I said: In the past, borders have always changed bloody. Yes, this is absolutely prevented. And with this proposal it would be off the table.
And second, you have to say: for example, There was recently an International Arbitrage in the case of Slovenia-Croatia on access to the Adriatic for Slovenia. And, as a result, some of the Croatian-speaking villages in Slovenia, were given to Croatia. If Croatia accepts this solution, you would according to ethnic criteria, so to speak, to come to Croatia. What this means then, what are we to rain on us?
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The principle, to violate boundaries, you have welcomed, for example, in 2008, welcome as Kosovo’s unilateral independence has been declared. At the time, Kosovo was immediately recognized by the majority of EU States, although this is in breach of the UN Resolution 1244.
Mr Petritsch, there is a lot of resistance not only in the EU against this proposal; a large resistance in Kosovo. It may be that Kosovo would be the losers in this Deal?
No! I have full respect for the protests, when it comes to you that says: We don’t want to make it to the old ethnic criteria in our state to a complete state and in the UN come up with this victim, but we want to, that Kosovo remains within its borders, and therefore we reject this proposal. This is absolutely legitimate. My opinion would be even the better way, and would be more likely to according to the what Europe stands for. No doubt. But the thing is just like that: obviously, by the EU, and the EU foreign policy chief Federica] Mogherini accepted, are set by other Considerations. Because to me that takes these Considerations seriously. But you have to include at the same time the protests.
On 7. September the Meeting Thaçi-Vuçiç-Mogherini in Brussels, where this proposal will be discussed. What do you expect?
I expect clarification. You need to place the environment in which their regional, European and global environment, the whole thing. The Situation has changed in so many respects radical in the Balkans. In the 90s, there was two great players there, the Americans and the Europeans. Americans are, by and large, in retreat. The Europeans are not standing, as we know, in the last ten years, just shiny. In the meantime, China is building ready for the silk road through the Balkans. Russia is economically and of course politically with Interference very active there. Turkey, with its rather neoosmanischen policy is the third very important Player there, and here are the Gulf States, which have invested hundreds of millions of ready to come, not only in Bosnia, in Serbia, for example. I don’t mind, if China is investing here, but to me it’s that it happens according to the European rules of transparency, traceability, without corruption, and so on. Who do we take with us but there is no time, because we are dealing since many years with such problems as Kosovo, then I say to myself: let’s see that we find a solution. The two presidents, who want a solution.
If now, on Friday of this practical common proposal is put forward, which is the time axis you will see a solution with possible boundary shifts?
The current EU Commission, which is also my big concern, has an expiration date. You have to look that up to March of next year, a solution and, since then, the Commission, and Mogherini are history. And if the thing fails and falls back to the original state, then I can guarantee you, they will accept no new Commission, no new successor of Mogherini this thing. I can guarantee you that the balance of power in the European Parliament will look different. And win the right-wing populists are pretty. And the right-wing populists, we know, are supported by Russia. There will be certainly no solution that we would want.
The Austrian Diplomat and a social Democrat Wolfgang Petritsch served as Austrian Ambassador in Belgrade from 1997 to 1999, the EU special representative for Kosovo and EU chief negotiator at the Kosovo peace negotiations of Rambouillet. Later, he was from 1999 to 2002 as the High representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina is responsible for the civilian implementation of the Bosnia peace agreement in Dayton.
The interview was conducted by Adelheid Feilcke