U.S. Analyst: Macedonian Model Could Resolve Serbian Crisis, U.S. Could Mediate

Edward Joseph (Photo: @edwardpjoseph/Twitter)

In a Jan. 29 evening statement for N1 TV, U.S. foreign policy lecturer and analyst Edward P. Joseph stated that, to exit its current political crisis, Serbia could follow the example of North Macedonia, staging talks between the regime and opposition which could be mediated by the United States, the European Union or certain E.U. members.

A senior fellow of Johns Hopkins University’s Foreign Policy Institute, Joseph pointed out that, a decade ago, Serbia’s southern neighbor faced largescale demonstrations against then-prime minister Nikola Gruevski.

“The opposition had demands and there were negotiations which resulted in the Przino Agreement, which could serve as a model for Serbia. The Macedonian model could be used and adapted by Serbia, so that, for example, an interim government is formed, where members of the opposition are appointed to key positions. There is also room for foreign mediation by the U.S. or the governments of EU members or the Union [itself],” the analyst explained.

The 2015 Przino Agreement, achieved by Macedonia’s main political parties via EU mediation, ended the country’s political and institutional crisis. The pact entailed members of the opposition assuming positions in the ministries, Gruevski resigning as prime minister and the formation of a transitional government which would lead the country through general elections.

Joseph also commented on last week’s X post by Richard Grenell, a close associate of U.S. President Donald Trump. Sharing a video of a massive rally in Zrenjanin, Grenell wrote that “it is always important to raise your voice and to be heard,” but underlined that the U.S. does “not support those who undermine the rule of law or who forcefully take over government buildings.”

“I believe it’s ironic of Mr. Grenell to talk about the need to respect the law when [the Zrenjanin rally] was shortly followed by a violent incident in Novi Sad. The regime admitted to this and former prime minister [Milos] Vucevic cited [the Novi Sad attack] as his reason for resigning. The government itself admitted there was violence and that such a violent reaction to the protestors, to the students, is unacceptable,” Joseph said.

With regards to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s claims that Grenell’s comment demonstrates that Serbia’s current government has not only the support of Russia and China but of the U.S. as well, Joseph said he does not share such an interpretation.

“President Vucic can interpret Mr. Grenell’s statement whichever way he likes, but I do not interpret it as blanket U.S. support [to Vucic’s regime]. That’s not my reading. President Vucic wants to interpret it that way, but the essence of what Grenell said about behavior and action was immediately undercut by what happened in Novi Sad, where supporters of the regime committed violence,” the analyst concluded.