USA force Sejdiu into resignation to postpone dialogue with Belgrade

This will probably lead to a delay of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina which could enable the interested parties to prepare better, and as for America, to define its role in the process, daily Blic writes.

Blic sources in Pristina unanimously claim the resignation of the Kosovo president, explained by the ruling of the Constitutional Court, is a product of the independence and the institutional development of Kosovo. Diplomatic circles in Pristina and Brussels in turn openly, though unofficially, insist the resignation was submitted at the request of America. International politics expert Predrag Simic has told Blic the resignation is the result of a desire to slow down the process that has too "prematurely begun to unfold in the aftermath of ruling of the International Court of Justice and the adoption of the resolution on Kosovo at the UN."

- "There are many discontented individuals after all these events, and the U.S. are looking for a part in the dialogue to be led by the EU. Sejdiu's resignation is a tactical stalling, buying time until it is definitely agreed who will be standing between Tadic and Thaci when they reach an agreement. The one who is standing will demonstrate to everyone they are the ones in charge set the tone for things and developments to come," Simic says for Blic.

This is most certainly what the head of the American and European diplomacy, Hillary Clinton, and Catherine Ashton respectively discussed yesterday, but the outcome of the talks has yet to become known to the wider public.

Martin Sletzinger, an expert on the Balkans with the US-based CATO Institute, is another expert who believes that the resignation is related to the upcoming talks between Belgrade and Pristina during which "the U.S. will not stand aside, although it will be a secondary player since the EU has been given the chief role".

- "Washington will retain an important influence and encourage Belgrade to recognise the Kosovo independence. Washington is perfectly clear Belgrade will not accept a deal unless there is a solution for the Serbs in northern Kosovo and for the acceleration of the process of EU integrations. U.S. is ready to accept even a change of borders if, reacting to the pressure from Brussels to the authorities in Pristina, Serbia and Kosovo should reach an consensus on it. The United States are currently against the change of borders, but if the EU succeeds in persuading Pristina, the U.S. will support the redrawing of the political map," Sletzinger said for Blic.

Prominent Kosovo analyst Leon Malazogu says Sejdiu's resignation will most probably lead to early elections and the postponement of the talks with Belgrade, perhaps even until the spring.

- "The negotiation is much easier to get into when the election process has finished because they are not easy, and a prospective deal reached could take away votes from certain parties that are struggling for power. The negotiations would be a much easier affair if they came in after the election. It is in nobody's interest to delay them, but there are present interests to enter into them without the election hanging over everyone's neck," Malazogu says for Blic.