Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti met in Brussels on Tuesday 2 May to discuss the thorny issue of implementing the agreement on the path to normalisation of relations between their two countries (see EUROPE 13164/31).
While progress has been made on a number of issues, such as the identification of missing persons from the 1998-1999 conflict, the positions of Belgrade and Pristina remain far apart on several issues, including the creation of the Association of Serb Municipalities, which is supposed to offer Serbs autonomy over the territory of Kosovo.
“We discussed how we are implementing - how both sides are implementing - what was agreed on 27 February in Brussels (see EUROPE 13145/5) and 18 March in Ohrid (see EUROPE 13131/12). (...) Identifying the remains of some 1,621 people still missing from the conflict and providing closure for their families has always been a priority of the dialogue”, commented EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell.
The leaders of the two countries assured that they would “redouble their efforts” on this issue, the modalities of implementation of which should be discussed at a forthcoming meeting in Brussels.
Discussions also focused on the establishment of the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities in Kosovo. “Not surprisingly, the parties’ views on the nature of this association are far apart”, Borrell conceded, even though a first draft status for the entity was proposed by the Kosovo Serb team.
Mr Vučić said that “Pristina did not want to fulfil its obligations”. For his part, Mr Kurti assured that his government was “interested in finding a solution”, but said that the project presented could not be accepted as it stood. “This is not the final project, it is a starting point”, Borrell said.
The meeting aimed at normalising relations between the two countries was also an opportunity for the EU to express its concerns about the situation on the ground.
“I expressed, once again, our deep concern about the situation in northern Kosovo, following the recent by-elections with a very low turnout”, said the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs (see EUROPE 13168/7). While the Serbian and Kosovar leaders also recognised the seriousness of the situation, they were unable to agree on a solution to the problem.
“Both sides need to take concrete steps to avoid any risk of escalation. The talks must continue quickly”, concluded Borrell. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)