Matthew Palmer has a very deep knowledge of the region and all of its key movers and shakers. He is both sympathetic and realistic. But if the US was to appoint anyone as the envoy for the former Yugoslavia, primarily for the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, they could not find a better person, views the renowned British reporter, Tim Judah. He does not think this by itself signals an end to deadlock. „But it could be an important step if we see a similar appointment and move from the new European Commission“, he told KoSSev. Still, neither the US nor the EU have the leverage they used to. „A few years ago it would be inconceivable that Kosovo Albanian politicians would rebuff what the US demanded of them”, he also said.
The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State overseeing the Balkans and Aegean region, Matthew Palmer was appointed Special Representative for the Western Balkans yesterday. Palmer is set to take on the role of a US mediator in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, which has been in a deadlock for a year.
Could the sudden appointment of a US career diplomat launch a mutual dialogue that has been completely blocked for a year? At a time when Kosovo has no government and is awaiting early parliamentary elections on October 6th and regular elections in Serbia in 2020 are approaching, while both sides are being rocked by severe political instability?
„It is great that the US has appointed someone with a very deep knowledge of the region and all of its key movers and shakers. I think Palmer is both sympathetic and realistic,” said Judah.
Yet, the appointment of a US envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue alone, especially during the current unstable political time in Pristina and Belgrade, does not necessarily signal an end to the deadlock between the two countries – he warned.
At the moment, neither the US nor the EU have the leverage they used to
“In years gone by for example it would be inconceivable that Kosovo Albanian politicians would rebuff what the US demanded of them. The appointment of Palmer won’t change that,” the British journalist emphasized.
One other thing: the appointment gives Palmer more political weight, Judah added, „but don’t forget that in effect he already did this job!”
“However, the formalization of Palmer’s mission could also be a real sign of an end to deadlock if we see a similar move from the European Commission, namely the appointment of a European envoy for the restart of the dialogue,” Judah ponted out.
When asked if the European Commission fails to appoint its envoy, does that mean that Palmer’s new function could be strictly cosmetic? – the U.K. publicist replied:
“I don’t think it is cosmetic in the sense that I suppose but am not sure that it means he will concentrate more on the ex-Yu region. But it is a good thing because it means there is some interest in solving problems.”
According to Judah, in order to complete this task, Palmer needs the help of the new European Commission, as well as the dedication of all participants.
Removing visas could unblock everything
“I think that the blockage could all be unblocked by visas but as I say this is not for the EU to do as they gave the green light, but certain member states, such as France and the Netherlands,” Judah stressed, adding:
“But my suspicion is that if the citizens of Kosovo got that they would agree to anything asked of them, not division, but a restart of talks and tariffs, etc.”
“I am not sure why Kosovars should agree to anything without visas and that is a problem in the hands of member states,” he explained.
Although sharing his belief that Palmer alone cannot solve problems, Judah concluded:
“But if the US was to appoint anyone they could not find a better person. Someone with 25 years of knowledge.”
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