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REAL POLITIK FLASH NO. 74
17 – 31 JULY 2024
With “ flash” comments on the 3 major events in only 1000 words by the well-known analyst,
DR. JORGJI KOTE
Grand Master in Diplomacy
1.Talk& eating! This was mainly seen in the Summit of the European Political Community ( EPC) in Belheim, Çurçill’s birth place, 100 km far from London on 18 July with the presence of 47 European leaders.
In the 5 hours of the Summit, they praised an congratulated the newly elected Premier, Keir Starmer; actually, he was the greatest winner of this Summit, since he had the opportuniy to present his visions for a greater cooperation with the EU, including the continued membership to the European Convention of Human Rights, unlike his forerunner’s warning. Then free bilateral talks, three rutine round tables on democracy, energy and illegal migration and family photo, ending with the reception by King Charles III and the invitation from Budapest as the host of the upcoming EPC Summit on 7 November this year.
But yet, despite the presence in the Summit of Secretary General of NATO, OSCE and ther Council of Europe, this Summit remained in shade, with the least echo in the international public, politics and media. This was due to the fact that the EPC Summit occcurred only a week after the jubilee NATO Summit in Washington with a planetary echo: meanwhile, again on 18 July, the international politics and media had a much better “hunted” event; they were “eyes over ears” in Washington, to see the destiny of Joe Biden’s presidential candidacy and especially in Milwaukee, where Trump was welcomed in the the National Convention like a hero by the republicans rallied like a single body around him following the failed attempt on his life. Liikewise, the international attention was in Strasbourg, where the reelection of Von der Leyen at the head of the EU Commission was vital for the EU future. Thus, Bleinheim remained almost out of the political, public and media “radar”.
This is why the EPC Summit simply added to question marks and disussions on the values, format and its future, in particular. Over two years after its founding, the EPC balance sheet is extremely poor: 4 summits only! Certainly with the expression of solidarity for Ukraine, culinary delicatessen, tourist attractions which in such cases are summed up in the phrase ” talk and eating” .
Besides, unlike the summits of other international organizations, political messages in the EPC summits are quite informal, without plenary speeches, debates and even less political attacks; thus, they end without concrete pledges and decisions, without any Conclusion or press statement.
This whole special format and catalogue of “ charm diplomacy” as is known is justified with the special EPC nature and to avoid any incident that would compromise or infringe its integrity.
Even worse, EPC does not have a secretariat, a steering committee, a program and agenda; nor does it have meetigns of ministers, senior officials or experts. There is not even a sign or hint for that. Even France as its initiator and its diplomacy is silent and gripped by fevers and troubles for the founding of a new governmental coalition after the most recent EU and national elections.
2. Just to wash the mouth ! The outgoing EU High Foreign Policy Representative Joseph Borrell announced the prolongation of the official term as negociator for the dialogue Pristina – Belgrade for Mr. Lajçak until January 2025. The time in which the new negotiator would be in place, following the constitution of the new high forums in the EU. The idea behind extending Lajçak’s term in office is to avoid that the said dialogue be stucked in this deadlock and to make even a little bit of progress. However, given the state of play in which this dialogue is reduced, on which we have written a lot even before in this rubric, the Serbian boycot and blocking steps, the new presidential elections in the USA and other regional developments, the extension for Lajçak’s mandate is done, as we say in Albanian “ just to wash the mouth”. Or, as we said last time “ just to find a job for Kola to idle his time away” Becase the said dialogue cannot indeed move ahead. What it needs above all is a new qualitative strategy by the USA and the EU; and end to appeasement diplomacy vis à vis Belgrade, without treating it as “ mothers’ son” and Pristine like “ stepmother’s son”. Meanwhile, Kosovo nedes more “carrots than sticks”. However, this expected turning point cannot occur over night. It requires time, hard efforts, steps and demarches with groups of experts and different alternatives to pave the way to the political decision – making. So, don’t expect in vain from Lajçak to do anything in the remaining 5 months. He will simply “drag on the rope but won’t cut it”. Hence, Kosovo is right not to have expectations on the new folks as long as the strategies and the papers remain the same.
3. Serbia or democracy? This western geopolitical dilemma arises after the strategic agreement among Serbia, the EU and Germany signed in Belgrade on 18 July on the production durable raw materials and especially lithium in Serbia. The latter is a critical good for the production of batteries for electric vehicles, a major battlefield between the EU and China. However, this has provoked harsh and massive criticism in Serbia. Accordingly, Serbia wants to increase the political price for its lithium, demanding concessions and even “ sacrifices” from the West. Which means that the EU should not bother Serbia with democratic criteria and conditions, human rights, aligning its foreign policy with the EU and especially changing its position vis à vis Russia and of Kosovo. To cut it short, Vuçiç is telling the EU either admit Serbia as it is, in good terms with China and Russia; otherwise, China, Russia and the Bric states where Serbia is aspiring to join are ready to work together with Serbia. And the West, surprisingly enough is afraid from Serbia and is doing the utmost with many diplomatic manoeuvres to accomodate Serbian positions. Look, now it is the time when the western geopolitical inerests have a priority over democratic values and principles; this is why the USA and the EU continue to “make an eye blind and an ear deaf” to Serbian democratic concerns. Apparantly, to quote a famous Albanian comic piece, the West is placing democracy in Serbia “ behind the list”.
© 2024 Argumentum
