• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Leaders Of Serbia And Kosovo Meet In Key EU-Mediated Talks

By RFE/RL's Balkan Service March 18, 2023

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic are meeting on March 18 for talks mediated by the European Union on implementing a deal to normalize bilateral ties.

The two leaders will hold separate meetings with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and then began a three-way session, which appeared to conclude but was then reconvened after a short break. A news conference was still expected to be held at the end of the day.

The U.S. special envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, is attending the meeting as an observer.

Escobar told RFE/RL in an interview that the focus of the meeting is the finalization of the annex for the implementation of the agreement, and he said he expects it to be finalized. According to him, the parties will not be able to choose what to implement and what not to implement from this proposal.

"We're not focused on signing. We're focusing on finalization. That is getting a meeting of the minds that the two countries prepare for real discussions and a real reconciliation in their relationship," Escobar said.

Escobar also stressed that the war in Ukraine raises the importance of the normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations.

"We have to recognize that we are operating under the shadow of one of the greatest threats to the European continent since World War II," Escobar said. "So for Europe to be prepared to meet security challenges, it should resolve all the security challenges that are inside of the continent of Europe."

The consequences of failing to agree on the implementation annex to the agreement is that the sides "will not move forward in their Euro-Atlantic integration," said Escobar.

He reiterated his position that Kosovo and Serbia and all the countries of the region "should recognize each other and have peaceful relations."

Regarding the establishment of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities in Kosovo, Escobar said it is highly unlikely that the association would be transformed into a Republika Srpska-like entity within Kosovo. Republika Srpska is the Serbian entity in Bosnia-Herzegovina that has repeatedly challenged the functioning of the state.

Kurti expressed optimism ahead of the meetings, taking place in the lakeside town of Ohrid in North Macedonia.

"I came here with a good aim, with a good will and with trust that what was agreed before...will continue here through the talks for the implementation plan, and in this way have a final deal on the normalization."

"This is the time for the leaders of Kosovo, Serbia, and of the entire Western Balkans to show courage and to demonstrate shared responsibility for the success of the EU accession process of the region," said Borrell.

He said the talks will focus on how to implement the EU plan that calls for the two countries to maintain good neighborly relations and recognize each other's official documents and national symbols. If implemented, it would prevent Belgrade from blocking Kosovo's attempts to seek membership in the United Nations and other international organizations.

Although tentatively agreeing on the EU plan reached last month, Vucic appeared to backtrack on some of its points after pressure from far-right groups which consider Kosovo the cradle of the Serbian state and Orthodox religion.

Vucic said on March 16 that he "won't sign anything" at the Ohrid meeting and earlier pledged never to recognize Kosovo or allow its UN membership.

On the other hand, Kurti said the implementation of what was already agreed should be the focus of the Ohrid talks.

"I'm an optimist but it is not up to me whether this will succeed or not," Kurti said. "I offered to sign the European proposal (at the last meeting in Brussels) but the other side was not ready and refused."

Thousands of far-right Serbian supporters, chanting "Treason, treason," marched in downtown Belgrade on the evening of March 17 demanding Vucic reject the latest EU plan. They carried a large banner reading "No to capitulation" and called for the Serbian president's resignation if he signs the plan.

Kosovo is a majority ethnic Albanian former Serbian province. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but Serbia still claims it as its territory.

With reporting by AP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-kosovo-leaders-meet- eu-mediated-talks/32324070.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.