Borrell: Kosovo and Serbia should end the period of tensions and start implementing the Ohrid agreement

2024-03-17 19:26:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Borrell: Kosovo and Serbia should end the period of tensions and start

The head of the European Union's foreign policy, Josep Borrell, called on Sunday Kosovo and Serbia to put an end to crises and tensions, and start a new European era, by implementing the agreement on the normalization of relations between them.

Mr. Borrell made these comments in a communique on the eve of the anniversary of the agreement on the road to normalization that Kosovo and Serbia reached in Ohrid on March 18, 2023.

"At a time of unprecedented war on our continent, reaching an agreement that promises peace, stability and good neighborly relations was a historic achievement," he wrote, noting that for the first time during talks facilitated by the European Union , the parties agreed "on clear parameters that determine the trajectory of the process for the normalization of their relations. This Agreement and its implementation will clearly show that the future of both partners is in the European Union". Mr. Borrell wrote that it is regrettable that despite the many efforts of the EU and the wider international community, so far there has been very limited progress by both Kosovo and Serbia in implementing the obligations arising from the agreement.

"The EU repeatedly recalled that the Agreement is binding in its entirety according to international law. Therefore, any lack of implementation not only endangers the European integration of the parties, but also damages their reputation as reliable partners", he wrote, underlining that "it is high time for both Kosovo and Serbia to break the current vicious circle of crises and tensions, and move into a new European era. The agreement offers a better future for the citizens of Kosovo and Serbia and the entire region".

On February 27, 2023 in Brussels and on March 18 in Ohrid, Kosovo and Serbia agreed on a normalization agreement which does not foresee mutual recognition, but requires good neighborly relations, recognition of documents and symbols and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other. It requires that the parties do not hinder each other in the integration processes and the fulfillment of all the agreements previously reached in the talks mediated by the European Union. Last fall, the European Union asked Kosovo to establish the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority, which means more autonomy for this community, while Serbia fulfills the parts of the agreement that lead to the 'de facto' recognition of Kosovo.

In December, Serbia, through a document, said that it will not implement anything that leads to the recognition of Kosovo. On Sunday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i? said that "only bad news" for his country and that Serbia will change its approach in talks with Kosovo.

"I will explain how we were deceived, where and how some so-called friends lied to us, and many others, and this has to do with Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe", he said, reiterating the position against the membership of Kosovo in international organizations.

Meanwhile, Prishtina has not yet started work on establishing the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority and is insisting that the agreement reached a year ago be signed.

On Tuesday, March 19, the chief negotiators of Kosovo and Serbia will meet in Brussels to discuss the implementation of the agreement, but also the issue of the use of the Serbian dinar, which has become a topic of disagreement between the government in Pristina and Western diplomacy.

A regulation by the Central Bank of Kosovo banning the use of the dinar for cash payments in Kosovo prompted an angry reaction from Belgrade, and Western concerns about its impact on the lives of Kosovo Serbs, who continue to be financially supported by Serbia.

Western diplomats have called on the government of Kosovo to suspend this regulation and to give time to the affected citizens to adapt to the new situation. The United States has emphasized that the lack of coordination by the Kosovo government regarding this issue has affected the quality of the partnership between the two governments and has warned Pristina that disagreements hinder their commitment to help Kosovo's progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration.

Serbian President Vucic accused the Kosovo authorities of forcibly implementing the decision of the Central Bank.

"You can enforce everything by force, but you must admit that you have enforced it by force. Will we ever have to admit, it is possible, but it will be clear that there is no agreement on this and that you have enforced it by force. We will talk in a different way. We are always ready to talk, but now with a different approach", he said on Sunday without giving details about the "new approach" to the talks.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday in Vienna that EU-facilitated dialogue "is the only sustainable mechanism and the only sustainable way forward" for Kosovo and Serbia.

"We need to see good faith, constructive efforts from Kosovo and Serbia to stabilize relations and to take measures towards that path. Not to raise tensions, increase coordination, increase transparency with international partners and implement all the commitments that come out of the dialogue", he said./ Voa