Igor Bandovic is the director of the Belgrade Center for Security Policy since 2019. The BCSP is an independent research center that contributes to improving the security of citizens in accordance with democratic principles and respect for human rights. The organization deals with research, public advocacy, community development and education.
Previously and now, the BCSP has been dealing with topics such as state capture, responsibility and organized crime. As the first person of BCSP, Bandovic is a relevant interlocutor on issues regarding the process of normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Our interlocutor has numerous professional and expert achievements also in the work in UNDP, IOM, the European Fund for the Balkans and others.
CIVIL Media spoke with Bandovic on the occasion of the meeting between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Ohrid, on March 18, when the two leaders supported the Implementation Annex of the EU Agreement on the path to normalization between Kosovo and Serbia.
CIVIL MEDIA: How do you assess the process overall and is the meeting in Ohrid a step towards normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo?
IGOR BANDOVIC: I think that in Ohrid significant progress has been made towards the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. The French-German agreement proposal and the annex that were agreed in Ohrid, so far is the most significant progress in settling relations between Belgrade and Pristina in the last 10 years. The reason for this is the agreement proposal that deals with essential matters between Kosovo and Serbia, as well as the newly agreed annex that determines the time framework for its implementation.
It is a very good basis for arranging and normalizing relations, but it must not stop here.
CIVIL MEDIA: What is the perspective of these talks, that is, of the process overall?
IGOR BANDOVIC: The perspective to a great extent depends on the leadership of Belgrade and Pristina, the political will to implement the agreement, but also the broader mobilization of society in Kosovo and Serbia to turn to the future through mutual respect, respect for human and minority rights and the fight against discrimination both in Kosovo and Serbia.
This agreement has to become a living document that will be accepted by all, additionally elaborated and upgraded so that it really resolves these topics that are not covered by the agreement, and in addition to the missing persons mentioned in the annex, we should also deal with the legacy of the past in a wider sense, strengthening the ties of Kosovo Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo and Serbia, improving the cultural, economic and any other cooperation that has suffered as a result of bad and disrupted relations.
CIVIL MEDIA: How do you comment the role of North Macedonia in these processes?
The role of North Macedonia to host such a meeting is a good signal and a sign that Macedonia can be a constructive factor and example for resolving relations between neighbors in the future, helping Serbia and Kosovo to find solutions. Additionally, since solutions to bilateral relations have become practically a major problem for further enlargement of the European Union in the Balkans, all countries of the Balkans or broader in Southeastern Europe should find solutions to their bilateral disputes, both the ones that exist today and those that will exist in the future.
The key is to make this part of Europe harmonious and non-conflict as any other.
Xh. Deralla
Translation: N. Cvetkovska
