Expert: Not Expecting Change in Russia's Stance on Kosovo, Crisis Will Last

Dragisa Mijacic (Photo: Print Screen)

The director of the Institute for Territorial Economic Development (InTER), Dragisa Mijacic, said on Feb. 22 that he did not expect any "dramatic twists" in relations between Serbia and Russia and in Russia's stance about Kosovo being a part of Serbia, as a consequence of the events in Ukraine, but added that "we are entering a long-term crisis with nobody knowing how it would end."

"All events are interconnected in international relations. Thus, Russia's recognition of the two breakaway territories in Ukraine will certainly cause a great disturbance on the international scene and affect the Balkans," Mijacic told BETA, replying to the question about whether Russia could change its stance towards the Kosovo problem, after having recognized Donetsk and Lugansk. Mijacic is also the coordinator of the working group of the National Convent on the European Union for Chapter 35.

In his words, "much will depend on the stance of Serbia." He recollected that President Aleksandar Vucic had stated that Serbia would attempt to be as neutral as possible. "However," he said, "I am afraid that pressure from western partners, as well as from Russia, on Serbia to take a stance on that issue, will increase immensely in one moment."

"The most important thing is that there is no war with much greater consequences in Ukraine. In that case, I believe the cards would be shuffled very differently and pressure on Serbia to take a stance would be extremely great," Mijacic has said.