EU elaborates on the concept of normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia: ‘recognition would be the logical consequence’
One day before the next meeting between the chief negotiators of Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels, the EU spokesman Peter Stano stated that the objective of the EU in the dialogue is normalisation of the relations, not recognition (of Kosovo by Serbia). ‘But of course, he added, the logical consequence of normalisation would be recognition’.
Why is this relevant
The so-called “constructive ambiguity” on the objective of the dialogue seems to have reached its limit. Conflicting interpretations of the accepted agreements by the two parties have prevented any implementation of the commitments made in the course of the dialogue.
Context
The aim of the EU is to unblock the implementation of the ‘Agreement on the path to normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia’ of 27 February 2023. This ended in failure last week, when the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti and the Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić were in Brussels for a meeting of the dialogue facilitated by the EU. They held only separate meetings with the EU High Representative Borrell. The trilateral meeting was not held as Kurti presented pre-conditions that were rejected by Vučić.
An agreement facilitated by the EU was reached more than a year ago, whereby the two sides committed to develop normal, good-neighbourly relations on the basis of equal rights. However there has been no progress on implementation.
One of Kurti’s pre-conditions was the formalisation of the agreement through signature by the two leaders.
Kurti demanded also the withdrawal of a reservation letter on the agreement by former Prime Minister of Serbia, as well as the handing over to Kosovo authorities of Milan Radoicic, who remains free in Serbia, although he has admitted to leading a terrorist attack against Kosovo’s police in September 2023.
The course and the agenda of the meeting between the two chief negotiatiors on Tuesday, according to Stano ‘is determined by the top urgency of starting the implementation of the agreement’.
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