KDI held today a press conference where the results of the fourth public opinion survey regarding the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, “The new phase of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue: the citizens’ view” were revealed.

Regarding this, Jeta Krasniqi from KDI has announced that through this survey are addressed issues related to the future of this process as citizens’ expectations for the role and influence of the President of Kosovo in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, the role that the Assembly should play in this process as well as the role of the EU to guarantee the implementation of the agreements.

She also said that KDI, asked citizens what it means to them the normalization of relations between the two countries.

She stressed that the findings of the survey reveal that Albanians and Serbs understand drastically differently the normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations.

She said that, “about 71% of citizens estimate that the main element for normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia is the apology for war crimes by Serbia. About 60% of Kosovo Serb community citizens interpret normalization as not interfering with each other on the European path or membership in international organizations without the need for states to recognize each other. While respondents from the Albanian community (73%) and other communities (68%) see as crucial to normalizing relations to be Serbias’ apology for war crimes in Kosovo.”

She further emphasized that based on the findings is not expected major change of dialogue with the inclusion of President Thaci “There are 33% of respondents who estimate that the dialogue will continue to remain the same, and 27% of them have stated that President Thaçi will not improve the level of talks with Serbia nor will it guarantee transparency and inclusiveness. So, most of the citizens, respectively 60% do not expect the inclusion of President Thaçi as a guarantee for a more transparent and inclusive process “, stressed Krasniqi.

As for the Assembly, respondents believe that this institution should have a stronger role in the dialogue process. “Nearly half of the citizens, respectively 48% of them, estimated that the Kosovo Assembly should seek regular reporting and transparency from the Negotiating Team, the President and the Government, before and after every round of talks held in Brussels, “said further Krasniqi.

Based on the survey, the EU should become the guarantor of the agreements. About 76% of the citizens share the view that the EU should become the guarantor of the agreements between Kosovo and Serbia by imposing sanctions / conditionalities on parties not implementing the Brussels agreements.

Based on these findings, KDI recommends to the Assembly of Kosovo to give legitimacy to the new phase of dialogue by adopting a Resolution defining the composition of the negotiating team, issues to be discussed and involvement of this institution in this process.

KDI recommends that the new phase of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to ensure inclusiveness of the national political spectrum and civil society for building a common platform of the state of Kosovo in these talks.

Also based on this survey, KDI recommends building a clear and well-defined platform of discussions on the basis of a broad institutional and civic discussion to ensure inclusiveness and transparency by clearly articulating the expected epilogue of this process.

Whereas the agreements reached must have implementing mechanisms, clearly defined deadlines and an enhanced EU role in guaranteeing the implementation of agreements and punishing the parties in their journey towards the EU for non-implementation of the agreements already reached.