Albin Kurti, Kosovo’s caretaker prime minister and leader of the Self-Determination Movement (Vetëvendosje), lacks a “culture of compromise,” a key shortcoming that has triggered institutional gridlock in Kosovo and stalled dialogue with Serbia, former EU envoy and international high representative for Bosnia Wolfgang Petritsch said in an interview.
Speaking to Kosovo Online, Petritsch warned that the persistent political deadlock in Pristina reflects a deeper democratic deficiency. Despite Kurti’s strong electoral performance in February, his refusal to engage constructively with opposition parties — including an insistence on a single candidate for parliamentary speaker — has led to 49 failed parliamentary sessions and a frozen political process.
“Democracy means compromise, especially when one wins over 40% of the vote. Without a culture of compromise, you get paralysis,” Petritsch said. “This is why the dialogue with Serbia has also ground to a halt. Kosovo is standing still, while the region and the world move on.”
No Internal Dialogue, No Progress with Serbia
Petritsch emphasized that before any normalization with Serbia can succeed, Kosovo must first establish an inclusive internal political dialogue — ideally one that also includes Kosovo Serbs. Recalling a recent conference in Pristina where he engaged with Kurti, Petritsch said the prime minister openly admitted that he does not communicate with opposition leaders.
“This is not sustainable. Without internal political dialogue, especially with the Serb community, normalization with Serbia will remain a distant goal,” Petritsch warned.
EU Must Lead as U.S. Focus Wavers
The former diplomat also expressed concern over the lack of progress in Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic integration, citing political stagnation, continued emigration, and investor uncertainty. He called on the European Union to take a more assertive role, especially as the United States under President Donald Trump appears disengaged from the region.
“Washington is a wildcard right now. It is up to Brussels to restore momentum and demand that Pristina reestablish functional domestic politics,” he said, noting that the newly appointed EU envoy for dialogue, Peter Sørensen, has yet to announce a clear roadmap.
Petritsch said previous talks under then-president Hashim Thaçi and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić showed a pragmatic approach that is now entirely lacking.
Unilateral Moves and Rising Tensions
Commenting on Kurti’s decision to construct two new bridges over the Ibar River in the divided city of Mitrovica, Petritsch cautioned against symbolic gestures without broad consensus.
“Bridges can be powerful metaphors for unity, but only if they have pillars on both sides. Building unilaterally, without engaging the Serb community, risks heightening tensions,” he said.
He noted that such projects, especially ahead of elections, may serve political interests but fail to build real cohesion. “It’s one thing to show progress to voters, but quite another to impose facts on the ground that alienate a segment of the population.”
ZSO Key to Restarting Dialogue
Petritsch argued that the single biggest obstacle to restarting negotiations is Pristina’s refusal to implement the 2013 agreement to create an Association of Serb Municipalities (ZSO), a key element of the Brussels dialogue process.
“If this continues, Kosovo risks becoming a battleground for external actors — be they Russia, China, or regional powers — seeking to exploit instability,” he warned. “None of this benefits Kosovo, Serbia, or the EU.”
Economic Cooperation as a Way Forward
The former envoy praised the 2020 Washington Agreement for its emphasis on economic normalization, calling it a constructive entry point for deeper political engagement.
“I’ve long advocated for a cross-border free trade zone between Serbia and Kosovo. Economic interdependence can pave the way for political resolution,” Petritsch said.
UN Charter, NATO Intervention, and Global Norms
Marking the 80th anniversary of the UN Charter, Petritsch acknowledged Serbia’s longstanding view that the 1999 NATO intervention violated international law, a perspective he said carries weight in today’s climate.
“NATO’s action had broader negative consequences than originally anticipated. At the time, the U.S. believed it could act unilaterally. That was a miscalculation,” he said. “But rather than relitigate the past, Europe must now hold fast to the principles it helped establish — rule of law, transparency, cooperation — and avoid repeating those mistakes.”
He added that the UN is in a “fundamental crisis,” as many of the principles enshrined post-1945 are now being questioned — even by the very powers that authored them.
Serbia’s Foreign Policy and European Ambitions
Asked about Serbia’s insistence on adherence to the UN Charter and international law, Petritsch said this position aligns with European values and could help reinvigorate Serbia’s stalled EU accession process.
“Belgrade’s stance reflects a deeper recognition that rules matter. That alone underscores Serbia’s European identity,” he said. “But progress is slow. It’s time to inject fresh momentum into the accession talks.”
While acknowledging Serbia’s balancing act between East and West, Petritsch said its long-term priority must remain EU membership. “Maintaining relations with Russia or China is understandable, but the strategic goal — as President Vučić has reiterated — is European integration.”
Regional Security and Inclusive Defense Initiatives
Regarding the recent defense cooperation agreement between Albania, Croatia, and Kosovo, Petritsch urged caution in overstating its significance. “This appears to be more political posturing than a substantive shift,” he said. “If regional security is the goal, all countries — especially Serbia — must be involved.”
Ultimately, Petritsch called for renewed seriousness in tackling the region’s unresolved conflicts — particularly Kosovo and Bosnia — which remain the most volatile legacies of Yugoslavia’s collapse.
“Peace in the Balkans hinges on resolving these two issues. That will require compromise, internal cohesion, and sustained engagement — not just from leaders in Belgrade and Pristina, but from the people they represent.”