The message that Greece must take a “decisive step” to recognize Kosovo, taking advantage of the “momentum” created last Monday in Brussels by an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina on a European plan to normalize their relations, Besnik Bislimi, Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovowho was in Athens yesterday for contacts with Greek officials, including Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.

“We would like to strengthen our friendship with Athens and have shown patience by investing in this relationship even when recognition was not on the table. Now that Serbia has practically committed itself to recognizing Kosovo and is gradually realizing that it will be better for them too, Athens should seize the moment to take a decisive step and strengthen our joint efforts to stabilize the Western Balkans.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo also responds to concerns expressed about the possible implications of the recognition of Kosovo by Greece in relation to the Cyprus issue. “The Kosovo case has absolutely nothing to do with Cyprus,” he notes, and emphasizes that any “equating” of occupied Cyprus with Kosovo is detrimental to the issue of the Cypriot, since his country is already recognized by a majority of the United Nations. “It is in the interests of Cyprus to do everything possible to avoid these parallels,” he notes.

As for Kosovo’s European path, after the recent application for EU membership, Mr. Bislimi, who is in charge of European integration and development, says that he expects “not to block Kosovo’s accession to international organizations by any country, which Serbia itself has.” already agreed.” In fact, for his country, he claims that “it is already a pioneer in the Western Balkans” in terms of some international indicators related to democracy, the fight against corruption, as well as freedom of the media.

Peculiarity

In the terminology of E.E. already has the term “Six Western Balkans” (WB6) which clearly states that it considers Kosovo to be its future member.

The peculiarity of Kosovo, of course, in relation to other countries applying for EU membership. is its non-recognition by five of its member states. According to Besnik Bislimi, these countries can now – provided Pristina’s firm commitment to constructively participate in the dialogue process with Belgrade – “reconsider their position and provide us with further support in terms of strengthening our institutions, as well as achieving convergence in terms of European criteria.” In addition, as he characteristically notes, “in the terminology of the EU. there is already the term Six Western Balkans (WB6) which clearly states that it sees Kosovo as a future member.

However, for that to happen, the European (Franco-German) plan agreed in principle by Belgrade and Pristina last Monday for the full normalization of their relations must be implemented, with the next round of talks already scheduled for March.

Necessary condition

For Kosovo, full normalization through mutual recognition is a necessary condition, and for Serbia, the decisive condition is Pristina’s agreement to establish a Union of Majority Serb Municipalities, which would give the Kosovo Serbs a certain degree of autonomy. “There is already an appropriate framework, agreed last Monday in Brussels, and we will strive to develop it.

Kosovo will not shy away from its responsibilities and will ensure the security and prosperity of all minorities in Kosovo,” Mr. Bislimi says, without specifying how this important issue will be achieved.