DPC, in partnership with the Heinrich Böll Foundation Serbia and Center for Foreign Policy, Belgrade, hosted a policy roundtable in Belgrade: Normalization of Relations between Belgrade and Prishtina in the Context of European Integration.The event was third in the series “Challenges to Regional Policy of the Republic of Serbia;” the prior two events focused on Serbia’s relationship with BiH and the impact of Croatian entry into the EU.
This public event introduced a few novelties into Serbian public sphere.For the first time in Belgrade, it brought together Serb political representatives from the north of Kosovo – both from the Belgrade-backed Serb List and opposition parties – as well as representatives from south of the Ibar who participate in the Republic of Kosovo government.The roundtable also brought an usually large number of Kosovo Albanian civil society and think tank representatives to the Serbian capital. Panelists included: Oliver Ivanović (Civil Initiative Serbia, Democracy, Justice – Mitrovica), Dušan Janjić (Active Serbia – Belgrade), Leon Malazogu (Development for Democracy, Prishtina), Engjellushe Morina (Council for Foreign Relations, Prishtina), Petar Miletić (deputy head of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo)and Danijela Vujičić (Civic Initiative Srpska, Mitrovica).In addition, German Ambassador Heinz Wilhelm delivered introductory remarks and EU Head of Delegation Michael Davenport delivered a keynote address.Kurt Bassuener was a commentator on the first panel, dealing with the implementation of the Brussels Agreement, while Bodo Weber moderated the second, in which panelists gave outlooks on 2014.Roundtable participants were drawn from Serbia, Kosovo, and international organizations, as well as including two serving Bundestag deputies, Marieluise Beck (Greens) and Peter Beyer (CDU).The discussion involved all panelists and a wide range of those in the room.The conference was considered a rarely informative event on the political reality in Kosovo and the Belgrade-Prishtina dialogue by many participants.One of the international officials attending called the event “pioneering” in correspondence with DPC.