On Thursday 22 June, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, and the European Union’s Special Representative for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajčák, met separately with the Serbian President, Aleksandar Vučić, and the Kosovar Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, to try to find a solution to end the tension and violence that has been going on since 26 May in northern Kosovo (see EUROPE 13205/28). After more than four hours of discussions, a number of avenues have been explored, but the positions of Belgrade and Pristina remain far apart.
“I think that the two leaders understand the seriousness of the situation, but it is clear that they are in different situations, that they have different approaches, different interpretations of the causes and also of the effects, consequences and solutions”, said Mr Borrell at the end of the crisis meeting.
The EU’s High Representative set out the various conditions that would have to be met for a return to normality in this region of Kosovo, which flared up after Albanian mayors were elected in four Serb-majority municipalities. The latter community boycotted the elections (see EUROPE 13191/6).
The EU is therefore calling on Kosovo to immediately suspend police operations in the vicinity of municipal buildings in the municipalities concerned. The four mayors, for their part, would have to carry out their duties temporarily in premises outside the municipal buildings, until early elections - presented by Mr Borrell as “the heart of the solution” - are announced.
The participation of the Serbs in these future elections would be “unconditional”, said Josep Borrell, who is calling for them to take place “as soon as possible”.
Release of Kosovar police officers detained in Serbia
For its part, Belgrade should ensure that the demonstrators withdraw from the municipal buildings at the same time as the Kosovar police and “immediately and unconditionally” release the three Kosovar police officers detained in Serbia since 14 June (see EUROPE 13206/19). Belgrade claimed that the three men were on its territory, while Pristina denied this information, saying that it was a “gesture of revenge”.
“To sum up, I think we have identified possible ways forward, but both parties must urgently honour their commitments”, concluded Mr Borrell.
These tensions have stalled the process of normalising relations between Belgrade and Pristina, which was already struggling to get off the ground. On 18 March, Mr Vučić and Mr Kurti agreed on the implementation of the agreement on the path towards the normalisation of relations between their two countries, although they did not officially sign it. (see EUROPE 13145/5, 13164/31).
“We need to get back to implementing this agreement, which means starting negotiations without further delay and without any preconditions, with a view to drafting the statutes of the Association/Community of Serb Majority Municipalities”, said Josep Borrell.
Discussions will continue between the parties involved, said Mr Borrell, who will report back to the foreign affairs ministers at their Council meeting on Monday 26 June (see other news). The following day, Mr Lajčák will brief MEPs on the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs on recent developments in the crisis between Serbia and Kosovo. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)