"Battle for supremacy over Europe to be decided in Kosovo"

"Battle for supremacy over Europe to be decided in Kosovo"

For Germany, Kosovo is an independent state and there is no further discussion on the subject of border change, Blic says, and reminds its readers that German parliamentarians Peter Beyer and Christian Schmitd conveyed this message to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic two days ago.

"It's interesting that they have such a firm stance, and then say that they will do everything for Pristina to withdraw its taxes (on goods from central Serbia) and for progress in the negotiations between the two sides to occur," an unnamed diplomatic source told the daily, adding: "Aleksandar Vucic at one point asked his interlocutors what the discussion was supposed to be about if they did not want to he deviates from their position, not even the one inch."

Germany and the United States are being stubborn, the source said they felt. Whatever Chancellor Angela Merkel says, the US rejects it, and it's similar on the other side. That is why, according to the newspaper, it is obvious that the two world powers are fighting for domination in this part of Europe and both would like to take credit in case an agreement is reached.

"While the Germans are strict, America would support a new solution. For Washington, a land swap would be ideal," said Blic's source.

A source from diplomatic circles in Berlin said the US has not done everything to force Pristina to withdraw its taxes, because it is clear that would have happened a long time ago had pressure been adequate. In addition, they add, the United States wants to use the tax story "to barter with Serbia when the time comes."

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Palmer said recently that it was "high time" to reach a Belgrade-Pristina agreement and recalled the message of US President Donald Trump that negotiators should use the "historic opportunity" to do it.

Bearing in mind that the European Parliament will be dissolved on April 16, Blic writes that 11 days now remain to reach an agreement, and that it is currently difficult to believe that will happen.

Unless a compromise solution is found by then, there will be empty space until the end of the fall, and the whole case will have to wait for a new (EU) administration.

"Nationalist factions are winning, so the that after (EP elections) no one will be in a hurry to find a solution for Kosovo is justified," said the source.