The normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations, the meeting between Osman and Stoltenberg is expected next week

On September 7, the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, will welcome the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, to the meeting, the Western military alliance announced. It is expected that the main topic of the Stoltenberg-Osmani meeting will be the security situation in Kosovo, especially in the northern part, inhabited by a majority of Serbs.

In the NATO announcement for this meeting, as in the past when there were visitors from Kosovo, Osmani’s function is not mentioned. “The Secretary General of NATO will meet Mrs. Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu”, the announcement states, adding that after the meeting, the two officials will hold a joint press conference.

NATO has several times expressed its support for the dialogue process for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which is mediated by the European Union. Likewise, the alliance has asked all factors in the region to do their best to reduce tensions. Also, NATO has reiterated that it will remain committed to providing peace and security to everyone in Kosovo through the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR.

Due to the tensions in the north of Kosovo, which have increased since the end of May, NATO has increased the number of soldiers within KFOR. Stoltenberg has stated several times that NATO has sufficient forces to implement its mission in Kosovo.

Meanwhile, Kosovo has expressed its ambitions to integrate into the alliance, first through inclusion in the Partnership for Peace program, and not even a member of NATO.

However, NATO has emphasized that for each action in this direction, decisions in the alliance are made with the consensus of all member countries. In NATO, four of the 31 member countries (Spain, Greece, Romania and Slovakia) do not recognize Kosovo’s independence.