FIRESIDE CHAT WITH PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO VJOSA OSMANI-SADRIU - The Atlantic Council’s Europe Center hosted a fireside conversation with H.E. Vjosa Osmani, President of the Republic of Kosovo on May 10, 2023. The President discussed recent developments in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic path, and her vision for the future of Kosovo.

On May 2, 2023, Serbian and Kosovar leaders met with senior EU counterparts in Brussels for another round of talks under the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, which aims to normalize relations between Serbia and Kosovo. In the meeting, both leaders adopted the declaration on missing persons and discussed the first draft statute of the Association of the Kosovo Serb municipalities. While these steps represent important developments in continuing the dialogue, both sides failed to agree on how to lower tensions in north Kosovo and on a framework that would give greater autonomy to Kosovo-Serb majority municipalities.

This conversation provided an opportunity to discuss President Osmani’s perspective on the future of the Pristina-Belgrade Dialogue, the Association of Serb Municipalities, and the role of US and EU leadership in the region. Additionally, the event will offer insights into President Osmani’s outlook on the impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine on political developments in the Western Balkans, including the region’s progress toward EU membership, the fight against disinformation and foreign interference, and the opportunities offered by Western Balkan regional integration initiatives.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 05/10/23