The recent events, which have dramatically changed the atmosphere will lead the visitors to seek concrete action: strong and unambiguous condemnation of the recent violent incident, and an expectation that parties will engage in the implementation of the Ohrid agreement more seriously, a source from the Western diplomatic circles says for Demostat, speaking about the visit by the Western envoys to Pristina and Belgrade, scheduled for Saturday, October 21st. As we learn, the so-called “The Big Five” comes with “with specific requests and deadlines, and lay out specific consequences for refusal to implement the agreement”.

On Saturday, a group of five envoys will arrive first to Pristina, and then to Belgrade - Miroslav Lajcak, on behalf of the European Union, Gabriel Escobar (USA), Emmanuel Bonn (France), Jens Ploetner (Germany) and Francesco Talo (Italy). The European Union spokesman Peter Stano told “Beta” that they are going to these talks (with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic) “with clear expectations that both sides will continue the process of normalization of relations and implement their obligations immediately and without conditions”.

Johanna Deimel, German Independent Analyst for Western Balkans and Southeast Europe, says for Demostat that the fact that “the fact that the Quint - even though there are the wars in Ukraine, in the Middle East, that demand a lot of attention - that the Big Five are traveling to Belgrade and Pristina shows how concerned they are and how important de-escalation is. That alone is a very clear message”.

- A few days ago, Nobel Peace Prize winner Marti Ahtisaari passed away. He insisted on resolving conflicts through dialogue - Kosovo owes a great amount to him. Washington, Paris and Berlin are counting on the continuation of the EU-moderated dialogue and will accordingly put pressure on Albin Kurti and on Aleksandar Vucic to return to the negotiating table, Deimel states.

Our interlocutor says that “Aleksandar Vucic is in a corner after the violence in Banjska. The Quint will surely wonder how far Vucic has everything under control and what his state of credibility is. Not only the U.S.has clearly stated that those responsible for September 24 must be held accountable.

- The fact that Vucic preferred to travel to Beijing rather than to the summit in Tirana and that he gave the EU and his neighboring states the cold shoulder was of little help and is now likely to fall on his feet. Does Vucic really want to join the EU? Is he the right partner? If not, it will certainly be considered at which points, for example, targeted sanctions could be used against other people in Vucics close circle. The European Parliament is already threatening a resolution and possible punitive measures. But Albin Kurti must also move if he does not want to risk the visa-free regime from 2024, Deimel explains.

According to Johanna Deimel,“only normalization and the implementation of what has already been negotiated and agreed upon will help both countries. Anything else means regression and stalemate in a frozen conflict”.

- Only normalization and the implementation of what has already been negotiated and agreed upon will help both countries. Anything else means regression and stalemate in a frozen conflict. More KFOR troops on the ground means more security for Kosovo (and at the same time a step back in terms of sovereignty) and increased NATO presence in Serbias immediate neighborhood. There is a lot at stake - for Serbia, for Kosovo, and for the region. Thats what I think the Big Five will convey, Deimel concludes.

Vucic: Well see what kind of "package" they bring

Members of the so-called" Big Five "stayed in Belgrade and Pristina at the end of January, then the topic of discussion was the Franco-German plan for Kosovo, which was subsequently agreed in February in Brussels, and the Annex of implementation was agreed in March in Ohrid (the so-called "Ohrid Agreement"). The new arrival of a group of Western envoys was officially announced by the president of Serbia, on Wednesday October 11th. "Every day we face pressure from those who want to destroy Serbia from the outside. The Big Five, I think, do not want it, but want to set out in a different way how to solve the problem of the crisis in Kosovo. We will see what the package is and what they bring, Vucic told reporters after the ceremonial Academy marking the 45th anniversary of the Institute for cardiovascular diseases "Dedinje", FoNet reported. This visit will be organised in the light of further strained relations between Pristina and Belgrade, due to the attacks in the north of Kosovo, in Banjska,  on September 24th, ended with the death of a Kosovo police officer and three Serbs.