TIRANA, January 14 – Peter Sorensen, the European Union special envoy for the dialogue between Kosova and Serbia, arrived in Prishtina. He is meeting the country’s leaders before traveling to Serbia to advance normalization efforts.

He will meet the acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, and President Vjosa Osmani. Sorensen will also hold talks with the opposition.

After Prishtina, he will travel to Belgrade for meetings with Serbian leaders.

The visit comes as Kosova awaits the formation of new state institutions following early parliamentary elections on December 28, which were won decisively by Kurti’s Vetëvendosje [Self-Determination] movement.

This is Sorensen’s first visit since his mandate was extended for two more years. During his first term, he held only two high-level meetings that yielded no results.

EU officials said the lack of progress mainly reflects internal politics in Kosova and Serbia, not the envoy’s effort. Few expect the two countries to engage soon in normalization talks.

Sorensen will follow the Ohrid Agreement of 2023. The EU stresses that the agreement is binding. It covers self-management for Kosova’s Serbian community, mutual recognition of state symbols, prevents Serbia from blocking Kosova’s international membership, and requires both sides to implement all previous dialogue agreements.

/a.p./