Serbia and Kosovo Weren’t Desperate Enough for an Ohrid Breakthrough

Serbia would not give Kosovo diplomatic recognition, which its 2006 constitution excludes, but would be bound by an agreement not to try to represent Kosovo internationally, a de facto admission that it is a separate country, not a temporarily lost province.

EU diplomats were just doing their job in the run-up to Ohrid, which was to act like the professional US football cheerleading groups that stand on the touchlines, priming fans and players with synchronised joyful victory chants.

The actual results of Ohrid after all this hoopla were meagre, however.  The EU's diplomacy chief, Josep Borrell, bravely tweeted after a day of talks: "We have a deal" - but where were the all-important signatures?

Perhaps more importantly, the two leaders both put contradictory spins on what this agreement comprised, Kurti claiming he'd won recognition for Kosovo and Vucic saying Kosovo had given in on the long-running question of the municipal association.

The only real concession from Vucic was an admission that at the next meeting, whenever it takes place, Serbia would be obliged to give something, even if hadn't budged this time. "When we meet next time, in a month, two, three, we will talk about some of our obligations", he said, vaguely, not listing any of those obligations.

The almost complete silence from Kosovo and Serbia, as well as from the EU, since Ohrid, is also telling.

Will Kurti, who has spent his whole political life attacking previous Kosovo governments for conceding too much to Belgrade now preside over the creation of a municipal association, without Serbia doing anything significant in return?

Albin Kurti. Photo: BIRN

Will Vucic, who has also spent his political life peddling a soft version of...