After several provocative statements made by Serbian and politicians from Kosovo, with only the silence of Washington and Brussels, assumptions that territorial exchange between Belgrade and Priština is being planned are widespread. However, American political analyst, Janusz Bugajski, thinks that would be a very dangerous thing in such an unstable region.
“There are hints that Washington and Brussels could request that Serbia- Kosovo dispute be settled through territorial options and that’s why they instigated this test balloon, in order to see what kind of an agreement can be reached between Belgrade and Priština, without direct international mediation. Changing borders in Western Balkans is dangerous and can be interpreted as legitimization of national homogenization. NATO forces and European institutions won’t be ready for for the wave of instability that can spread on to the region. Radicalized Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo might provoke violent protests in order to expel other nationalities from their territories. And such scenario might extend to Macedonia”, says Bugajski.
He adds:
“Only sovereign states can exchange a territory. Serbia and Kosovo should recognize one another as independent countries and they shouldn’t block entrance into international institutions”, concluded Bugajski.
