Lajçak: Implementation of the Basic Agreement, in the interest of all

2024-03-05 12:16:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Lajçak: Implementation of the Basic Agreement, in the interest of all

Miroslav Lajcak

The special envoy of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajçak, called on the parties to start implementing the Basic Agreement, as he said that its implementation is in everyone's interest.

After the meeting with the chief negotiator of Kosovo for the dialogue with Serbia, Besnik Bislimi, Lajçak said that in the March 5 meeting in Pristina, the issue of banning the use of the Serbian dinar was also discussed.

"We have a long list of issues that we have discussed, but the most important is the implementation of the Basic Agreement. It is in everyone's interest to see faster progress in this direction", Lajçak told reporters in Pristina.

According to the European emissary, the Basic Agreement that was reached in Brussels last February, and then in March in Ohrid, agreement was reached on its Annex, is legally binding, despite the fact that the parties have not signed it.

"This agreement is the best agreement that Kosovo and Serbia could provide. I am very sure of that. If there was a better deal, it would have already been proposed. Therefore, it is in everyone's interest to start implementing it. With this agreement we have answers to the questions of how to do what and when to do it. The only question that remains is when and I ask: Why wait? This agreement is good and should be implemented", he said.

The agreement on the road to normalization, of 11 articles, foresees, among other things, a level of self-management for the Serbian community in Kosovo and mutual recognition of the state symbols, while asking Prishtina and Belgrade to also implement all the agreements of previously achieved during the dialogue.

Lajcak also spoke about the issue of the Serbian dinar, admitting that on February 27 he had organized a meeting in Brussels at the level of experts for such a thing.

However, he said that some aspects of the regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo had to be discussed with Bislim.

"I know that we had the meeting last week at the level of experts in Brussels. The meeting was constructive and we managed to find answers to some questions. But there are some questions that go beyond the mandate of these experts and we have discussed these issues with Bislim. Our communication will continue and I plan to organize a new meeting in the coming days at the level of chief negotiators", said Lajçak.

At the February 27 meeting, Kosovo was represented by the head of the Central Bank of Kosovo, while Serbia was represented by its chief negotiator, Petar Petkovic.

Lajçak, speaking about Bislim's non-participation in this meeting, said that "intentionally" in the invitation sent to the parties, he had left open the possibility for them to choose who would represent them at the meeting.

The CBK regulation, which provides only the euro as the currency in which cash payments can be made, entered into force on February 1.

The Serbian state allocates millions of euros to Serbs in Kosovo after paying them in dinars - through a parallel system - salaries, pensions and additional assistance.

The regulation has been criticized by the EU and the United States. Washington has requested that Kosovo postpone the implementation of the decision, arguing that it was taken without prior consultations and without considering the impact on the Serbian population./ REL