BIRN Fact-Check: Trump’s ‘Historic’ Kosovo-Serbia Deal Gathering Dust

With power in Kosovo now in the hands of Vetevendosje and its leader, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, BIRN took a look at the state of play with the Washington Agreement. Of the 16 points, Hoti signed up to, only one has been fully implemented - the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel.

There has been no positive movement on any of the other elements.

Kurti: 'Messy agreement'

Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti gives a joint press conference with European Union High-Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Policy Josep Borrell at the EEAS building in Brussels, Belgium, April 29, 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / POOL

Widely seen as quick and easy way for Trump to tout a foreign policy triumph ahead of his November 2020 re-election bid, the Washington Agreement saw Vucic and Hoti sign separate documents concerning mainly economic cooperation, rail and transit links.

The deal was chiefly the work of Trump envoy Richard Grenell, who sidestepped European Union-led efforts to settle ties between Serbia and its former Kosovo province and carved out a 'parallel' US mediation process that claimed to put economic interests ahead of political disagreements.

The points included a first flight between Pristina and Belgrade since the 1998-99 Kosovo war, mutual recognition of diplomas, a commitment to a planned Balkan 'mini-Schengen' zone, a one-year moratorium on Serbian lobbying for states to withdraw their recognition of Kosovo and a suspension of efforts by Kosovo to join international organisations.

But when it came to how each point would be implemented, there was little meat on the bones. The deal's chances of surviving took a nosedive when Vetevendosje scored a resounding...