Kosovo, 7 December 2023 – British diplomat Robert Cooper, who mediated the technical dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia from 2011-2012, has accused Serbia of not implementing the Agreement with Kosovo.
Cooper claims that Serbia’s opposition to the Ohrid Agreement being a part of Chapter 35 is closing the door to EU membership, RTK media reports.
Cooper responded to Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic’s claim that the EU is closing the door to Serbia by including documents agreed between Kosovo and Serbia in the negotiation framework for the first half of 2023. Serbian media reported on a Voice of America chronicle.
Cooper believes that the EU’s mission is to solve problems rather than be part of them. The EU wants all its members to have a supernormal relationship with their neighbors, including Serbia. Chapter 35 of Serbia’s membership negotiations includes neighborhood relations, which means the regulation of relations with Kosovo.
Cooper stated that the EU doesn’t want to bring Serbia into the union while it refuses to recognize the independence of its neighbor and accept it as a separate state. This goes against the EU’s values and would strengthen the divisions between Serbia and Kosovo.
Cooper also emphasized that Serbia currently doesn’t act as a credible candidate for EU membership. Serbia is a democracy in form but not in reality. The media is not free, and not everyone has equal access to it. Additionally, it is uncertain if another party will succeed the ruling party soon.
The European Council will announce the conclusions for enlargement, including the countries of the Western Balkans, at the end of next week’s summit of European leaders.
/Argumentum.al
