Vučić says no to speedy recognition of Kosovo

As discussion continues about a possible territory swap between Serbia and Kosovo, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has visited northern Kosovo. During his visit to this area which is mainly inhabited by Serbs he said he opposed any change to the current borders and rejected the idea that Serbia could soon recognise Kosovo. What does this mean for the outcome of the conflict?

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Večer (SI) /

No end to the conflict in sight

The conflict between Serbia and Kosovo looks set to drag on for a long time yet, Večer comments:

“The Serbs see the north of Kosovo as their territory, even if there can be no question of that after Kosovo's declaration of independence. The Albanians in Kosovo, whose political disunity is obvious to everyone, are waiting for the US to wave its magic wand and calm the situation. What's more they demand that Belgrade recognise the young state. But the international community has long since had enough of having to sort out the situation in the turbulent Balkans and there is no hero in Belgrade willing to say: 'Kosovo is lost for us.'”

Jutarnji list (HR) /

Vučić is the Serbian version of Erdoğan

In his speech the Serbian president also praised his predecessor, the war criminal Slobodan Milošević, who in his view had nothing but 'good intentions'. Jutarnji list is appalled:

“In Vučić's mind, two hundred thousand dead and millions of refugees are the result of good intentions. Vučić's statements can't come as a surprise to anyone who is following the situation in Serbia. He is the Serbian version of [Belarusian President] Alexander Lukashenko and Tayyip Erdoğan: day after day he announces new victories and the creation of fictional jobs, while having the state-controlled media brand anyone who disagrees with him as an enemy of Serbia. ... Such policies based on the principle 'we = good, the others = bad' are constantly in need of enemies.”

Der Standard (AT) /

EU needs new chief negotiator

EU Foreign Affairs Representative Federica Mogherini has failed recently when it comes to fostering a positive dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Der Standard writes:

“The last few days and weeks have shown that Foreign Affairs Representative Mogherini has lost control over the dialogue between the two states. She allowed half-baked ideas to circulate, causing many people in the Balkans to become uneasy. For this dialogue to be successful once again it's time the EU changed its chief negotiator.”