Pahor: There is a mistrust issue between Pristina and Belgrade in the dialogue

August 12, 2022

The Slovenian president, Borut Pahor, said that he supports the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia from the beginning, but that there is currently a big problem of trust between the parties.

“I am in contact with both sides and I see how difficult it is with this mistrust.” We have recently witnessed an event that we fear will grow even more. If there is no strong dialogue, there is always a risk that such events will occur that can increase tensions. There is currently no strong dialogue. I try to encourage the parties to do their best because the peace agreement between Belgrade and Pristina is important not only for the peace and stability of the two countries, but also for the entire region,” said Pahor.

In an interview for the Anatolian agency, Pahor said that in the long term, the only way to solve the problems in the Western Balkans is to speed up the process of membership of the countries in the European Union. He stated that he has been trying to attract the attention of his colleagues in NATO and the EU for the events in the Western Balkans.

“Some countries are under direct pressure from Russia,” he warned.

Also emphasizing that Serbia is under great pressure for the implementation of Western bloc and EU sanctions, Pahor recalled that Serbia’s EU membership process continues and advocated for the acceleration of the Western Balkan countries’ membership process in the EU.

Pahor added that he attaches importance to EU membership to show on whose side all countries are, including Serbia.

“If Serbia decides to take the other side, the future of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina may gain another momentum,” Pahor warned.

He underlined that he wants to see all the countries of the Western Balkans in the EU as soon as possible.

“The only solution is to speed up the EU membership process. I think the EU should do more. We see a similar process in relations between Kosovo and Serbia, as well as in the tension between certain ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where elections are eagerly awaited. In the long term, the only way to solve these problems is to accelerate the EU membership process”, says Pahor, and adds that the Western Balkans will be even more exposed to Russia if NATO continues to wait.