{"id":5649,"date":"2020-09-09T16:07:36","date_gmt":"2020-09-09T16:07:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pan.thatscommunication.de\/no-historic-agreement-but-a-success-for-the-us-president\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T20:34:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T20:34:21","slug":"no-historic-agreement-but-a-success-for-the-us-president","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pan.thatscommunication.de\/en\/no-historic-agreement-but-a-success-for-the-us-president\/","title":{"rendered":"No ‘Historic Agreement’, but a Success for the US President"},"content":{"rendered":"

The agreement between Serbia and Kosovo signed in Washington is not historic in every respect. For Trump, it is a success. And it highlights the weaknesses of Europe’s geopolitical self-restraint. An analysis by Stefan Hab\u00f6ck, International Officer of the Paneuropa Movement Austria. <\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Much has been written about the ‘historic agreement’ between Serbia and Kosovo, signed in Washington under the watchful eye of US President Donald Trump. Any rapprochement between states is to be welcomed. However, one should be cautious when using superlatives. Political normalisation between Serbia and Kosovo has, in fact, already been agreed \u2013 in the 2013 ‘Brussels Agreement’. Everyone must judge for themselves how successful that has been. Special Envoy Grenell stated as early as June that the US intended to focus on the economic component, leaving the EU to negotiate the political solution (the more delicate terrain). <\/p>\n

In any case, the document signed in Washington is not the ‘historic breakthrough’ in South-East Europe, but it is a major success for Donald Trump.<\/p>\n

Background to the Negotiations<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The conflict between Kosovo and Serbia remains active. Serbia refuses to recognise Kosovo. Both the EU and the USA \u2013 which enjoys a special status in the country due to its 1999 intervention in Kosovo \u2013 have been trying to mediate between the parties for years. That this proves difficult is not entirely incomprehensible given the history of the individuals involved. A ‘Verdun moment’, where Mitterrand and Kohl shook hands at the site of the hell of Verdun, still seems a long way off. <\/p>\n

Recently, there were political conflicts in Kosovo when President Hashim Tha\u00e7i announced he would sign an agreement with Serbia through the mediation of US Special Envoy Richard Grenell. The government under Prime Minister Albin Kurti (Vet\u00ebvendosje) rejected this as unconstitutional. Kurti fell following a vote of no confidence in parliament. The new Prime Minister, Avdullah Hoti, has now signed in Washington. <\/p>\n

What is in the Document?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Both Vu\u010di\u0107 and Hoti signed separate documents. The much-cited ‘economic agreement’ is only partially that. Several points in the economic section are commitments to implement declarations already signed. For example, the Belgrade-Pristina motorway or the Belgrade-Pristina railway line (both February 2020). Furthermore, several infrastructure projects are to be handled in cooperation with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. <\/p>\n

Additionally, Kosovo is to join the ‘Mini-Schengen’ project. This is interesting because in 2019, when Serbia, Albania, and North Macedonia presented this project, it was dismissed as nonsensical. <\/p>\n

In future, air passenger data will be recorded and processed using US technology (‘commit to technology upgrades to combat illicit activities by implementing and operationalizing U.S.-provided screening and information systems [\u2026]’).<\/p>\n

A fascinating point is where both states pledge to exclude ‘untrusted vendors’ from the 5G network. Given Serbia’s close military and security cooperation with China, real-world implementation will show whether the USA or China wields the greater influence. <\/p>\n

In Kosovo, there will be further discussions: the coalition partner, the party of former PM Ramush Haradinaj, has already announced it will not agree to a solution in the dispute over Lake Gazivoda\/Ujmani.<\/p>\n

Religious and Socio-Political Agreements<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Both states agree to increased interreligious dialogue and the protection of respective religious sites. Furthermore, restitution is to be pushed forward. A crucial point, as it remains a gaping wound for the population, is the area of information regarding the whereabouts or resting places of persons missing since the war. In the spirit of humanity and for the people of the entire region, it is to be hoped that the governments take this point very seriously. <\/p>\n

In addition, Serbia and Kosovo will each implement a one-year moratorium regarding membership in international organisations. So, essentially, no agreement there either. A major point of contention is Kosovo’s membership in international organisations. This application is regularly torpedoed by Serbia. This leads to the situation where Kosovo has not been admitted to Interpol. <\/p>\n

What is Trump’s Goal?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Anyone who saw the photos of the meeting in Washington and understands the power of imagery realised: the President and Prime Minister of two European states, signing at smaller tables and sitting opposite the US President as if reporting for duty, were not on an equal footing. Such images will never be seen coming out of Brussels. Anyone reading US President Trump’s tweets will see what he is concerned with \u2013 just weeks before the US presidential elections. And it is less about the expansion of train connections in South-East Europe. Rather, it is the geopolitical impact on the Middle East. A legitimate focus. <\/p>\n

Serbia and Kosovo agree to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation on their territories. This, combined with the fact that Serbia signed to move its embassy to Jerusalem from 2021, and that Kosovo and Israel recognise each other, is the historic part of the agreement for Donald Trump. Accordingly, he tweeted: ‘Another great day for peace with Middle-East \u2013 Muslim-majority Kosovo and Israel have agreed to normalize ties and establish diplomatic relazions. Well-done! [\u2026]’. <\/p>\n

According to the Jerusalem Post on 9 September, Serbia will not move its embassy if Israel recognises Kosovo’s independence. So much for the ‘historic agreement’. <\/p>\n

Recognition of Kosovo in Europe<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The non-recognition of Kosovo by five EU states remains an open wound. Yet while four of them behave openly towards the country (participating, for example, in the Western Balkans Summit), Spain refuses to cooperate with Kosovo to this day. This hardline stance, based on its internal conflict with Catalonia, is a stumbling block in common European South-East Europe policy. The fact that Israel, which previously refused to recognise Kosovo for fear of a precedent, is now doing so makes the Spanish position even more peculiar. <\/p>\n

Another negative aspect is the fact that European states continue to withhold visa liberalisation from Kosovo \u2013 the only country in South-East Europe so excluded. This alienates the young population in Kosovo from the EU in particular. One must consider: Ukraine received visa liberalisation (which we at Paneuropa very much welcomed), yet Kosovo must continue to wait. Turkey granted visa liberalisation some time ago. It is therefore now easier for young Kosovars to get to Turkey than to Barcelona. <\/p>\n

Reporting on the ‘Agreement’ was Good PR<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Shortly after the signing, countless headlines appeared proclaiming the ‘historic agreement’. The US government’s successful PR hit home completely. A few days after the meeting in Washington, talks on Kosovo\u2013Serbia took place again at EU level in Brussels. These were once again about substantive negotiations. Consequently, this topic did not make it into the media as ‘historic’. <\/p>\n

Must Europe Question Itself?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Following the agreement in Washington, many commentators are now asking why ‘the EU’ failed to achieve this. Quite simply: geopolitics is de facto shaped by the Council, i.e., the individual member states. And they have their own interests. While Austria is clearly positive towards the six Western Balkan states, there are also hardliners: <\/p>\n

Take Spain and its refused recognition. But also France, which blocked accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia for a long time because Macron wanted a trade-off. Germany, too, is putting the brakes on visa liberalisation. The strong position of the USA and Russia in Kosovo and Serbia respectively is a fact. <\/p>\n

But it must also be made clear: ‘the EU’ is by far the largest investor and trading partner in the region. It finances many projects and has provided 3.3 billion euros for the region just to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. And, unlike individual superpowers thousands of miles away, it must take many more interests into account: 27 EU states and 6 Western Balkan states are involved in the region, meaning 33 national interests must be unified. Added to this are the interests of the USA, China, Russia, and Turkey. At least 37 players playing a role in some form. By comparison, finding a congressional majority in Washington or a Duma majority in Moscow is easy. <\/p>\n

Bringing this diversity of interests under one roof plays a role in all areas. The USA can exclude other providers from the 5G network if they wish. The EU Commission must ask 27 states. So, what is to be done? <\/p>\n

Furthermore, Europe must consider other factors: Serbia and Kosovo are located in Europe. The impact is therefore stronger due to geographical proximity. Additionally, there are the after-effects of the bloody Yugoslav wars of the 90s throughout the region. Social tensions and the emigration of young people (from the entire region) also play a much larger factual role for Europe. <\/p>\n

Responsibility Lies on the Ground<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Alongside all the (important) political agreements on the grand stage of world politics, the main problems for the people in this region remain: a lack of prospects, social tension, unemployment, and surviving daily life. Here, agreements and wishes from Brussels and Washington help little; what is needed above all is a change of mentality among those responsible directly in the region. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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