"South Tyrol as a model for the Association" Mandl: Not a Republika Srpska, it should be a practical solution, without threats

Austrian MEP Lukas Mandl, in an interview with Telegrafi, spoke about the current state of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and the issue of the Association.

Mandl said that this issue must be handled carefully, avoiding past mistakes and seeking practical solutions that do not threaten the integrity of Kosovo.

The MEP noted that the main question should not be 'if' the Association will be implemented, but 'how' it will be created, structured and function in practice.

He compared the situation to two different examples: Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina and South Tyrol in Italy.

“Republika Srpska is a bad example. It is not a republic, but a region that should contribute to the state for the common good. However, it acts in the opposite way, weakening the state and threatening peace,” said Mandl.

He cited South Tyrol as a successful example, where a reasonable solution has brought stability and cooperation.

“I am sure that a reasonable plan, perhaps including a timeline, will be the bridge to a better future for the people of northern Kosovo, for the Western Balkans and for Europe as a whole,” he added.

Mandl expressed hopes for the role of Peter Sørensen, the new EU special envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

“I have always expected an EU Special Representative to travel continuously between Pristina, Belgrade and Brussels, building a continuous dialogue not only with officials, but also with civil society, businesses and academia,” said Mandl.

Read too Mandl: Serbia is not trusted, recognition of Kosovo is the only final agreement

He believes this approach can help increase trust and achieve concrete results.

"I expect the Western Balkans and the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to be on the agenda of the President of the European Commission. This is one of the issues that will affect the fate of Europe," he added.

Speaking about the role of the European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, MEP Mandl expressed confidence that she can contribute to improving relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

"Kaja Kallas has personally experienced authoritarianism and has a deep sense of aggressive behavior and incompatible positions. This will help the EU not to allow itself to be manipulated as in the past," said Mandl.

According to him, Kallas, as a strong supporter of Kosovo's Euro-Atlantic integration, can play a key role in ensuring a fairer and more sustainable approach to the dialogue.

Mandl stressed that in order to achieve peace and stability in the region, it is necessary for both sides to show flexibility and focus on implementing existing agreements.

He believes that with EU support and the right approach, Kosovo and Serbia can find a way forward that will bring benefits to all citizens of the region.

The Association Issue

For the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority, Kosovo and Serbia reached an agreement as early as 2013, but Kosovo did not implement it, fearing that it could affect the functionality of the state.

In 2023, the prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, also reached what is known as the Basic Agreement, which, in addition to a level of self-management for the Serbian community in Kosovo, requires the parties to respect the integrity and each other's territorial sovereignty, as well as recognize each other's national documents and symbols.

Serbia has, on several occasions, spoken out against it and, according to Kurti, Vucic has refused to sign it.

Speaking recently, Kurti said that the Association should not be placed at the center of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

According to him, the Basic Agreement, which also addresses the issue of the Association, should be fully implemented.

"I believe we should focus on the Basic Agreement. Article 7 talks about the self-management of the Serbian community. Let it be addressed there," Kurti had declared.

The international community has drawn up a draft statute for this association and has asked Kosovo to send it to the Constitutional Court for evaluation - which Kosovo has not done.

South Tyrol / Historical

South Tyrol, an autonomous region in northern Italy, consists of two provinces: Trento, where mainly Italian speakers live, and South Tyrol, where the majority of the population speaks German.

This region has a rich and complex history, closely linked to wars, negotiations, and the search for autonomy.

South Tyrol was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1919, when it was annexed by Italy after World War I. From 1919 to 1947, the region was called Tridentine Venice. This area, with an area of ​​13,619 km², is entirely mountainous and includes parts of the Dolomites and the Southern Alps. It borders Austria to the north, the Lombardy region to the west, and Veneto to the south.

After the capitulation of Italy in 1943, South Tyrol was occupied by Nazi Germany and administered by it until the end of the war in 1945. After the war, Italian rule was restored, but this did not satisfy either the German-speaking population or the Austrian government.

In 1946, during the adoption of the new Italian constitution, Italy and Austria reached an agreement to grant South Tyrol considerable autonomy. The constitution came into force in 1947, recognizing German and Italian as official languages ​​and allowing the use of German in schools. However, this agreement did not fully satisfy either the German-speaking population or Austria, leading to ongoing tensions.

In 1960, the issue of South Tyrol was brought before the United Nations (UN).

A new round of negotiations took place in 1961, after separatists began to organize violent actions. Finally, in 1971, an agreement was reached that provided for the resolution of the contradictions at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The agreement included wider autonomy for the region and a commitment that Austria would not interfere in the internal affairs of South Tyrol.

This agreement brought calm and reduced separatist tensions.

South Tyrol's position improved significantly with Austria's entry into the European Union (EU) in 1995. This step facilitated cross-border cooperation and strengthened economic and cultural relations between South Tyrol and Austria.

South Tyrol is a successful example of resolving ethnic and cultural conflicts through autonomy and negotiations.

His story shows that, although the path to peace and stability may be complicated, lasting solutions are possible when parties are willing to cooperate and respect international agreements. /Telegraph/