Engagement without Recognition: The Relationship between Sarajevo and Pristina
Engagement without Recognition: The Relationship between Sarajevo and Pristina

Summary/Abstract: Twelve years since Serbian southern province of Kosovo and Metohija (thereafter Kosovo) unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008, the Presidency of Bosnia and Herze¬govina, a body in charge of conducting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s foreign policy, considered recognizing Kosovo. The central argument suggests that the lack of recognition does not prevent Sarajevo and Pristina from engaging, particularity at the regional level. The article analyses how polarized political scene is in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the issues of recog¬nition of Kosovo and what are the limitations to these relations from advancing. It will be argued that the internal political dynamics in Bosnia and Herzegovina play a decisive role in shaping Sarajevo’s relationship with Pristina. By relying on the state recognition theory, the article aims to analyse bilateral and multilateral elements of diplomatic engagement without recognition. It will be argued that the key element of interaction between the two is the lack of a formally shaped intent on the Bosnian side to recognize Kosovo as an independent state.

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