O'Brien: The association does not create another layer of power in Kosovo

2024-10-21 21:59:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, James O'Brien, said on Monday that he expects Kosovo to send the draft statute of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities for review by the Constitutional Court, while emphasizing that this mechanism does not create a government or a another layer of power.

"But it is a mechanism for coordination, as we see in Northern Italy or in the islands of Sweden or in Belgium", said Mr. O'Brien in an interview with Channel 10 in Pristina.

Mr. O'Brien, who on Monday met for more than two and a half hours with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said that the United States occasionally has disagreements with the government of Kosovo related to the lack of coordination, but according to him, this happens between friends.

"We want to have more coordination when actions are taken, especially when those actions may involve NATO troops. We would also like to have more discussions before taking such action," said Mr. O'Brien.

Kosovo has come under criticism from Western diplomacy for what have been described as unilateral and uncoordinated actions in the north where the authorities closed the Serbian parallel municipalities appointed by Belgrade, which Prishtina considers illegal.

The European Union as well as the United States have called on the parties to choose the open issues within the talks in Brussels, the continuation of which is expected this week at the level of chief negotiators.

The US Assistant Secretary of State said that he wants both Kosovo and Serbia to fully implement the commitments made with the agreement of a year ago.

"And Serbia has had good economic growth recently, but in order to have even greater growth, there must be a political solution in the coming years regarding Kosovo. The best way is through the basic agreement and the Ohrid annex. This is the way forward," said Mr O'Brien.

He said that if there is a deadlock in the dialogue, both countries will lose opportunities for their country.

"(Albin) Kurti understands that it is a unique moment, because we have all those transitions that are happening. The European Union will have a new commissioner, i.e. new personnel, who will supervise the process of integration into the European Union. We also have elections in the USA, we know that we will have a transition there as well", he said.

Mr. O'Brien said that during the day in Prishtina he talked with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, "how to move faster towards Europe".

Mr. O'Brien arrived in Pristina from Belgrade in a new effort to promote the implementation of the agreement for the normalization of relations between the parties.

In a communique of the government of Kosovo, it is said that relations with Serbia, the dialogue process facilitated by the European Union and the implementation of the basic agreement and its annex were discussed.

In the communique, Prime Minister Albin Kurti is quoted as having said that "the signing of the Basic Agreement is the necessary proof of good will and good faith on the part of Serbia for the quick fulfillment and full respect of it and the Annex of implementation. Also, for legality and justice, peace and security, the surrender of the chief terrorist Milan Radoicic and his paramilitary group is needed".

The European envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia talks, Miroslav Lajcak, wrote on social networks that he is preparing for the next meeting that is expected to be held this Thursday, and according to him, now is the time to start diligently implementing the agreements reached in February and March. of last year./VOA