The compromise that Kosovo must make to move the dialogue forward with Serbia is the formation of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, say experts on political developments, Albanians and Serbs.

They say that in this way the statement of the American envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, should be understood, who said that the Government of Kosovo, in order to reach mutual recognition with Serbia, "must make compromises".

Otherwise, the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, reiterated today that Kosovo and Serbia must respect all agreements signed in Brussels, including the Association of Serb-majority municipalities.

According to Serbian media, he said in a written response to the question of the French MEP Dominique Bilde, if the EU will call on Kosovo to fulfill the agreement reached under the Brussels Agreement, Borrell said that he expects it to be implemented. everything that has been agreed, Telegrafi reports

"All agreements in the framework of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina with the support of the EU have been concluded in good faith by all parties involved.

The EU constantly reminds both parties of their unfulfilled obligations under the dialogue and expects all agreements from the dialogue to be fully implemented.

"This includes the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities," Borrell wrote.

The Kosovo authorities insist that the final result of the dialogue for the normalization of relations with Serbia should be mutual recognition, but the Government has not commented on the statement of the American diplomat.

Political analyst Artan Muhaxhiri, a sociology lecturer at the University of Pristina, says Kosovo leaders need to pay special attention to Escobar's stance.

According to him, compromises are expected to reach a final agreement with Serbia, but not those that affect the status of a sovereign state.

"They can mean the practical implementation of the agreement for the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, or any other element, which, in no way, violates the statehood of Kosovo.

"It has become clear that neither the European Union nor the United States is comfortable with a second Republika Srpska in Kosovo, and this has been removed from the agenda," said Muhaxhiri, referring to the Serb entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina known as Republika Srpska.

But, adds Muhaxhiri, "it is expected and logical that for a major compromise of Serbia - which is the acceptance of some form of Kosovo statehood - Kosovo also makes a pragmatic move."

Kosovo and Serbia reached an agreement on the formation of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities in 2013, in the framework of the EU-mediated dialogue.

Implementation of the agreement on the ground, however, has stalled.

The current Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has said on several occasions that there can be no mono-ethnic association in Kosovo.

Serbia, on the other hand, insists on its formation.

Gogic: Without the Association, Belgrade finds justification

Serbian political scientist Ognjen Gogic, who hails from North Mitrovica, says he views Escobar's statement with reservations.

According to him, this statement is not in line with previous statements by US officials, that the purpose of the dialogue is the recognition of Kosovo by Serbia and that at this point there is no room for compromise.

Gogic says that Escobar's statement has more to do with the content of the talks he has held in Pristina and Belgrade.

Escobar and the EU envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, stayed in Kosovo and Serbia earlier this month.

"In fact, they brought the message that all previous agreements must be implemented.

"Their message to Pristina was that Pristina implement all that it has undertaken, so that later the European Union and the United States can put pressure on Serbia to recognize Kosovo."

"They are clear that, as long as Pristina does not fulfill all its obligations, among which is the formation of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, Belgrade will always have a reason why it does not recognize Kosovo and why it does not enter. in the final agreement ", says Gogi..

Offering acceptable alternatives

Although Escobar has stated that Kosovo must make compromises to achieve mutual recognition with Serbia, the issue of compromise is not mentioned in recent messages from top US officials, President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, addressing Kosovo on the occasion. marking the 14th anniversary of its independence, on 17 February.

They called for the implementation of the agreements reached so far in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue process.

According to Muhaxhiri, the pressure of the international community on Kosovo and Serbia to reach a final agreement on the normalization of relations has increased.

He says that Escobar, who took over the position of US envoy to the Western Balkans in September 2021, has brought new and great energy in relation to the dynamics of dialogue.

Muhajiri expresses the opinion that Escobar has a plan regarding the dialogue and that he articulates the ideas of the US State Department regarding this process.

"This in no way should encounter indifference on the part of the Kosovar leadership, but there must be great mobilization of all potentials, internal and external, institutional and extra-institutional, in order for Kosovo to be creative in providing of alternatives, which are acceptable to our international allies, as well as to Serbia, but which do not harm the substance of Kosovo's statehood ", says Muhaxhiri, for REL

"Kosovo has nothing to offer as a compromise"

Political scientist Gogic does not expect any pressure from the United States of America on the Government of Kosovo regarding any eventual compromise, in order to pave the way for reaching a final agreement.

Kosovo, according to him, "has nothing to offer as a compromise", while the US demands towards Kosovo, he adds, were clearly listed during Escobar's meeting with Kosovo's institutional leaders.

He says that Kosovo has been asked to form the Association, to respect the decision of the Constitutional Court to return 24 hectares of land and forest of the Decani Monastery, as well as to allow the holding of Serbian elections in Kosovo, so that international pressure can pass. on Serbia.

The formation of the Association, says Gogic, Kosovo has undertaken by ratifying the agreement for it in its Assembly.

He says that it suits Serbia that Kosovo does not form the Association, because this serves as a reason not to continue the dialogue.

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"I think that the non-formation of the Association is just an excuse and Serbia wants the Association not to be formed and in this way the status quo to be preserved.

"I think what is meant by compromise is the formation of the Association," said Gogic.

Radio Free Europe addressed the Government of Kosovo with questions whether US officials have made clear to him what the compromise mentioned by Escobar means, and whether the Government is ready to offer any form of compromise for mutual recognition with Serbia, but, until the publication of this text, the Government has not responded.