German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Kosovo and Serbia on May 4 to be constructive in the process of restarting normalization talks and reiterated his desire to see all Western Balkan countries become members of the European Union.
Scholz held separate talks in Berlin with Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic as the German chancellor continues efforts to break a deadlock in normalization talks that have been on ice since last summer.
"The Western Balkans belong in Europe," Scholz said after talks with Kurti, but he warned both parties that progress in the dialogue is “crucial for peace and stability in southeastern Europe as well as for the European integration of both countries.”
Since 2011, Kosovo and Serbia have engaged in an EU-led dialogue that aims to reach a comprehensive and legally binding agreement on normalizing relations.
Speaking after his meeting with Scholz, Vucic said he would do everything in his power to reach a compromise. Scholz encouraged Serbia to pursue reforms in rule of law, press freedom, and combating organized crime.
Scholz also underlined that the “recognition of Kosovo -- something that Germany did a long time ago -- will be part of the agreement.”
Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade doesn’t recognize it as independent and continues to lay claim to the territory. Most EU countries recognize Kosovo as a separate state.
After his meeting with Scholz, Kurti emphasized progress in the rule of law in Kosovo and the fight against corruption.
Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, Kurti stressed that for his country there were no alternatives to the EU and NATO.
EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak traveled to Berlin on Scholz’s invitation for an “informal dinner” with Kurti and Vucic.
"Grateful to the German government for hosting," Lajcak said on Twitter. "We will continue the discussion on the level of Chief negotiators on 13 May."
The dinner was the first meeting between the leaders in 10 months. They met twice last year but both meetings were failures as tensions prevailed inside the room and in front of reporters.
Ahead of the dinner, Vucic said the process was not easy, but struck an optimistic tone.
“I believe we will find strength to reach a certain level of progress in the dialogue with Pristina, which is not easy for us,” Vucic told journalists in Berlin.
Kurti said the recognition of Kosovo should be focus of the talks.
“Mutual recognition should be in the center of the process, not at the end of it,” Kurti said.