Belgrade and Kosovo closer to normalizing ties – Vucic

The breakaway province has agreed to greater autonomy for its minority population, the Serbian president says

Serbia and its breakaway province, Kosovo, have made progress in normalizing ties and reached agreement on several crucial points, President Aleksandar Vucic announced on Saturday. Pristina has agreed to the creation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities (CSM), which would give greater autonomy to the Serbian population in various areas of Kosovo, Vucic added.

Speaking after a high-level meeting in Ohrid, North Macedonia, attended by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and top EU diplomat Josep Borrell, Vucic said that while “had not signed anything today”, the parties “have made good progress in a constructive process”. atmosphere.”

“It wasn’t D-Day, but it was an okay day,” he summed up.

“These few points that we agreed will become part of the negotiation framework of each of the parties… The European Council will assess how much has been done for the implementation plan, which will have to be expanded,” said Vucic .

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He emphasized that Belgrade attached great importance to the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities. “That’s why I’m very happy. It was stated that CMS training should start immediately, but I don’t know if Pristina will do it.”

“If we want to persevere on the European path, our progress will also be appreciated in terms of implementing what I told you tonight,” added the president.

The progress has also been confirmed by the EU’s Borrell. “The parties are fully committed to complying with all articles of the agreement and implementing their respective obligations in a timely manner and in good faith,” he tweeted.

Last month, the EU presented a proposal for a “path towards normalization” of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. The blog then insisted that the two develop “good neighborly relations”, recognize each other’s documents and “proceed with the assumption that neither can represent the other internationally”.

Both sides must also “ensure an adequate level of self-governance for the Serbian community in Kosovo,” the EU said at the time.

However, Vucic noted that while Serbia is ready to work on implementing many points of the EU-backed plan, formal recognition and accession of Kosovo to the UN are out of the question.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008 with the support of the US and many of its allies. The separatist region is not recognized by several countries, such as Russia, China and Serbia itself.

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