Clear message from the EU: No border changes in the Balkans

By Haris Ljevo

One of the main topics of all political discussions in the Balkans in recent days has been the correction of borders between Serbia and Kosovo. Such a scenario is expected by numerous nationalists, who seek to, should such a situation arise, try to satisfy their ambitions that they failed to achieve in the wars of the nineties.

The most vocal in the story about border correction are Ivica Dačić, Aleksandar Vulin, Milorad Dodik, while Aleksandar Vučić talks about border correction, but in a somewhat milder tone. He consciously left the nationalist megaphone to his partners.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel clearly stated that no border corrections are possible, and numerous other domestic and foreign intellectuals share the same opinion.

Former High Representatives of the International Community in BiH Carl Bildt, Paddy Ashdown, and Christian Schwarz-Schilling sent an open letter to Federica Mogherini and the EU foreign ministers, warning them about the increasingly frequent mentions of border corrections between Serbia and Kosovo. The letter states that border corrections would not solve problems but would further deepen them.

- As High Representatives in BiH, we are deeply concerned by the recent statements of high-ranking EU officials suggesting that the EU would be willing to support an agreement between Aleksandar Vučić and Hashim Thaçi involving the exchange of territories between Serbia and Kosovo through "border correction" - the letter states.

The letter further states that "while aware that there is no comparison between the case of Kosovo and the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we know the Western Balkans well enough to know that such a policy would be misused by nationalist politicians to destabilize other countries in the region.".

- We know BiH well enough to know that this would give support to those who would gladly tear the country apart, who are already calling for a return to the status quo in Dayton, nullifying everything we have been doing together with our Bosnian partners for over twenty years.

We know the EU and Europe well enough to know that our principles and bloody history teach us that lasting peace can only be achieved when we learn to live in multi-ethnic communities, not when we re-establish borders to create mono-ethnic communities. Therefore, we urge you to reject such proposals as soon as possible - the letter states.

Johns Hopkins University Professor Edward Joseph believes that the idea of territorial exchange as a solution could gain momentum.

- It is another question whether Belgrade and Pristina can specifically agree on which territories would be part of such an agreement. Also, a very serious question arises as to whether the negative effects of such a solution on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Serbs south of the Ibar can be prevented. I believe that additional engagement from the international community, including Washington, will be necessary to prevent such consequences - believes Edward Joseph.

Josip Juratović, a member of the ruling Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in the German Bundestag, is also concerned.

- If border redrawing were allowed, we would risk the creation of 40 new states in Europe, which would certainly lead to chaos and conflicts. The exchange of territories is a return to the Middle Ages when feudal lords traded territories and moved people against their will. Because someone will always be dissatisfied, someone will always have to move. Not to mention that it would be ethnic cleansing again in the 21st century, which is an outdated theory that has always led only to wars - Juratović told DW.

This politician, born in the former Yugoslavia, points out that the Trump administration clearly favors the idea of territorial exchange, while the EU is not united - apart from Chancellor Merkel, no one has taken a clear stance. The consequences, he says, could range from BiH and Macedonia to Crimea and Transnistria.

- Such an approach to political solutions would mean the final capitulation of the democratic system, which is based primarily on a society of equal citizens, in the face of increasingly strong nationalisms in Europe that aim to build autocratic societies, which will surely lead to a new division of Europe and ultimately even to new wars - believes Juratović.

The Kosovar opposition also strongly opposes any idea of territorial exchange. The most influential opposition party, the Democratic League of Kosovo (DSK), states that it will not allow any agreements detrimental to "Kosovo's territory," and Vetëvendosje announces protests with the same motive.

- Negotiations on Kosovo's territory are unconstitutional, and anyone who joins such games will bear constitutional and political responsibility. We will coordinate actions in parliament to prevent President Thaçi from questioning Kosovo's sovereignty and territorial integrity - the DSK announced.

About ten days ago, a group of more than twenty non-governmental organizations from Kosovo and Serbia sent an open letter to Federica Mogherini, asking her to unequivocally state her opposition to the division of Kosovo into ethnic parts.

Therefore, many institutions and individuals have unequivocally stated that there is no question of changing borders and exchanging territories, because serious people are aware that in the Balkans, border changes can only come through wars.

The story of changing borders is clearly advocated only by those who regret the failed projects from the nineties.