Experts after meeting with Sorensen: Kosovo should not yield to pressure over Serb judges

The European Union envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia talks, Peter Sorensen, stayed in Pristina on a surprise visit, at a time when the parties continue to have opposing views on the return of Serb judges and prosecutors to the judicial system.

During his stay, Sorensen held a meeting with acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, but chose not to speak to journalists.

After the discussion, Kurti stressed that any step in this direction must be in harmony with the Basic Law and Kosovo’s legislation, underlining that the autonomy of judicial bodies and respect for the law are the pillars of addressing this issue.

According to a statement from his cabinet, Kurti told Sorensen that the mass resignations four years ago in the north aimed to disrupt the multiethnic character of the democratic system, and that the future will be guided only by the constitutional and legal framework, which simultaneously aims to preserve ethnic diversity and strengthen impartiality and justice standards.

Political analyst Faton Mehmeti, in an interview for “Bota sot”, expressed his conviction that the call for the return of Serb magistrates is a product of Belgrade’s pressure.

He stresses that their departure from Kosovo’s state structures was orchestrated by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and that they should no longer have the right to return.

According to him, this situation should serve as a signal for other Serbs to rely on Pristina, not Belgrade.

Mehmeti stated that Sorensen came as a result of Serbia’s complaints about alleged ethnic persecution, and that he simply fulfilled a role to calm the concerns of the Serb side, proving that such claims do not stand. He added that the judges and prosecutors who resigned were tools of Vučić, ordered by him to withdraw, and that his people should not be readmitted to Kosovo’s institutions.

The analyst underlined that no pressure, whether internal or external, should influence the Kosovo authorities, and that the right decision is to oppose the return of the former officials, which would demonstrate the independence of the judiciary and show that Kosovo is decisive for the fate of its own institutions. Mehmeti concluded by highly praising Prime Minister Kurti’s position in this case and stressing that it would be unacceptable for anyone to interfere in the justice of a sovereign state, just as it would not be allowed in any other country.

Expert Artan Nimani also pointed out that Sorensen’s trip is part of the EU’s involvement in the dialogue process and that his failure to appear before the media reflects the delicacy of the topic.

He emphasized that the departure of Serb prosecutors, judges, and police officers in 2022 was a consequence of political decisions by Serbia and not of any discriminatory treatment by Kosovo, therefore any step towards their return must be guided without exception by the Constitution and the laws in force.

Nimani added that the state must maintain cooperation with allies without compromising its sovereignty, asserting that integration cannot come as a result of political agreements, but only through the implementation of the law and civic equality.

As a reminder, in November 2022, a large number of members of the Serb community in northern Kosovo abandoned their posts in local administration, police, courts, and prosecution as a response to the government’s plan to convert illegal Serb license plates to the official ones of the Republic.