Germany surrendered: Belgrade and Pristina were allowed to exchange territories
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell did not rule out the idea of a territory swap between Serbia and Kosovo, provided that both sides agree to it.
The Kosovar news portal Koha reported this, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
According to the portal, Borrell, during a conversation with four media outlets in the Western Balkans on the eve of tomorrow's EU summit, which is to be held via videoconference, also touched upon the topic of Kosovo.
“We accept what is called Kosovo, because contracts are not signed with something that does not exist,” the European official said. “On the other hand, recognition of Kosovo as a state is not a matter of the European Union, but the jurisdiction of the member states, and everyone decides for themselves.”
According to Borrell, he does not rule out the idea of “changing Kosovo’s borders if Kosovo and Serbia agree on this.” At the same time, he noted that it is not Brussels that should tell Belgrade and Pristina what to do, since, as he metaphorically noted, “the EU cannot be more Catholic than the Roman Para.”
Josep Borrell
“We only promote dialogue,” said the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. “Much has been achieved, trade turnover between Serbia and Kosovo has been resumed (after the abolition of Kosovo XNUMX% tariffs - ed.), but it is also a fact that some agreements have not been implemented as expected.”
Josep Borrell noted that it was at his suggestion that a special representative, Miroslav Lajcak, was recently appointed to mediate the EU in the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, adding that dialogue is the only way to solve the problem.
“As I said, the spillover effects of any agreement must be taken into account due to other parts of the region where the border issue has always been sensitive. I personally understand the position of Germany (strongly opposed to changing the existing borders of Serbia and Kosovo - ed.) and others, but my role is to facilitate dialogue,” concluded the EU representative.
Germany Surrenders : Belgrade and Pristina Allowed to Swap Territories