Serbia-Kosovo economic normalization agreement continues to attract criticism
Serbian President Alexander Vucic in Washington, September 4, 2020. Leah Millis / Reuters
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3 min
Reactions are multiplying, in Serbia, Kosovo and internationally, after the signing of an economic normalization agreement between Serbia and Kosovo in Washington.
If the Kremlin spokeswoman mocked the Serbian president, and if the Europeans denounce the move of the Serbian embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the criticisms in Belgrade and Pristina are also very harsh.
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With our correspondent in Belgrade,
Laurent Ruy
The images have gone viral on social media.
They show the astonished reaction of Serbian President Alexander Vucic in Washington on September 4, as US President Donald Trump announces that Serbia will move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Also unveiled on the web,
the agreement between Serbia and Kosovo
includes a Prévert-style inventory of clauses that have nothing to do with the Balkans but dear to Donald Trump, such as the exclusion of unreliable partners from the 5G, or the condemnation of Hezbollah.
In Europe, this agreement is far from unanimous
The agreement was therefore heavily criticized.
In Belgrade, the People's Party ensures that Serbia is revolting half the world because of the move of the embassy to Israel.
While for the right-wing Dveri party, the agreement is "
the semi-final before recognition of Kosovo
", which Serbia rejects.
In Pristina, the opposition accuses Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti of having discussed with Serbia the future of a border lake.
For many observers, the deal is more useful to
Trump's presidential campaign than
to the Balkan countries.
Nikola Burazer, program director of the Belgrade-based NGO Center for Contemporary Politics,
gives
her analysis: “
I don't think the Europeans are very happy that the two sides went to Washington and signed an agreement there. agreement some points of which could be at odds with the interests of the European Union or its foreign policy, in particular on the question of the Middle East.
But I don't think that fundamentally changes the circumstances in which this normalization process takes place.
Discussions will not be easy.
There is no political will on either side, so I don't see any significant progress possible at the moment.
But the fact that the dialogue has resumed recently, after a hiatus of a year and a half, is a good thing.
It's good to see both parties gathered around the same table.
"
► See also: Kosovo-Serbia: an agreement favorable to American interests above all
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Headlines: Kosovo and Serbia sign economic agreement in the United States