CLEAR MESSAGE Sarrazin: Serbia cannot become an EU member without recognizing Kosovo

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Germany's Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin, said today that Serbia cannot become a member of the European Union without recognizing Kosovo and that Germany's stance on this has always been clear.

"We from Germany have always had a very clear stance on this issue, towards the end of the normalization of relations process, when Serbia decides to join the EU, the recognition of Kosovo will be part of the process," Sarrazin said.

According to him, the international community, Germany, and the EU are exerting enormous pressure on Pristina to open talks on the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM), but it is not a good path to condition a return to institutions by forming this community, Nova RS reports.

Sarrazin said this ahead of the visit of the EU Special Representative for the Dialogue, Miroslav Lajčak, to Kosovo, and then to Serbia, as part of the preparations for the meeting in Brussels between the representatives of Belgrade and Pristina.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced on Wednesday that he would have talks with international representatives and representatives of the United States and Lajčak on Friday, adding that, considering the conversation with the EU Special Representative for the Dialogue, Miroslav Lajčak, in Davos, difficult times lie ahead for Serbia.

Commenting on the EP resolution on aligning Serbia's foreign policy with the EU, Vučić said that the resolution was hypocritical and that it emphasizes that Kosovo's independence is irreversible, while calling on EU member states that have not recognized Kosovo to do so.

"I expect a difficult conversation, during the weekend when we complete consultations – the Government representatives and I – then we will address the public at the latest on Monday with new measures and say what is expected of Serbia regarding Kosovo, as well as on the issue of sanctions against Russia," said Vučić.

According to him, the resolution condemns secessionist rhetoric in BiH and calls on everyone to adopt sanctions against those who support secessionist aspirations.

Vučić stated that an agreement with Pristina could be reached the day after tomorrow, and not in the coming months as Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti claims, if Kurti abandoned his secessionist intentions.

The Commander of KFOR in Kosovo, Angel Michele Ristuccia, said today that the security situation in Kosovo is generally calm, but unpredictable and unstable.

In Brussels today, the spokesperson for the European Union (EU), Peter Stano, said that Belgrade did not violate the agreement with Pristina on license plates, as renewing insurance and technical inspections for vehicles with KM license plates is not considered issuing new plates.

As RTS reports, Stano called on everyone to respect the agreement and focus on normalizing relations, and that the interpretation of what was agreed upon should take place within the framework of dialogue, not through unilateral actions on the ground that could further destabilize an already sensitive situation.

The EU Special Representative for the Dialogue, Miroslav Lajčak, and the US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, are scheduled to visit Kosovo on January 20, and then Serbia, as part of the preparations for the meeting in Brussels between the representatives of Belgrade and Pristina.

The two envoys have repeatedly stated in Brussels that the joint engagement of the EU and the US has proven useful in persuading the parties to reduce tensions.

During the meetings that Escobar and Lajčak will have in Pristina and Belgrade, the main focus will be the proposal for a fundamental agreement and the organization of high-level dialogue meetings to reach agreements on this proposal, Radio Free Europe has learned.