Following talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti, European Union (EU) Foreign Policy High Representative, Josep Borrell, said that both Vučić and Kurti had agreed that no further discussions were needed on the EU proposal.
Since both leaders have agreed that no new discussions are needed, the text of the agreement will be published, he added.
“The agreement sets out that people can move freely between Kosovo and Serbia using their own passports, which will be recognized (by both countries), it entails that people can study and work without wondering whether their diplomas and where they obtained them may be an issue. The agreement can bring new economic opportunities, through increased financial assistance, business cooperation and new investments in Kosovo and Serbia. It provides better employment opportunities for everyone in Kosovo and Serbia, without unnecessary bureaucracy and it also means more trade because certificates needed for import and export will not be an issue any longer. For the Serbs in Kosovo, it means more security, certainty and predictability when it comes to their protection and rights in Kosovo, including for the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbs’ cultural and religious heritage sites. I hope the agreement can also be the basis to build much-needed trust and overcome the legacy of the past. The parties have expressed their readiness to proceed with the implementation of the agreement,” said Borrell.
“Further negotiations are needed to determine specific implementation modalities of the provisions. High Representative Borrell will convene another meeting between the two leaders in the course of March with the aim to finalize the discussions on the Implementation Annex, which will guide the implementation phase of the Agreement,” said the EU statement.
The EU reminded the parties of their obligation to implement all past dialogue agreements that remain valid and binding, said Borrell.
“The European Union special representative Miroslav Lajcak will have to go again to Kosovo and Serbia in mid-March, to follow up on their discussions and to prepare for the next high-level meeting. We expect the parties to engage constructively in this process. It is a very positive thing that both parties have agreed to refrain from any uncoordinated actions that could lead to renewed tensions on the ground and derail these negotiations,” said Borrell.
“The agreement is also important for the security, stability and prosperity of the entire region, and it shows to all of us that progress is possible”, Borrell underlined and added:” Progress was made today and I commend the parties on their engagement. At the same time, more work is needed to ensure that what was accepted today by the parties will be implemented.”
(BBC News, Naslovi.net, N1, 28.02.2023)