[News] Serbia and Kosovo reached an agreement to normalize their relations, the signature is missing

[Draeno]

 

The Community High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, has announced this Saturday an agreement between Serbia and Kosovo to implement "in good faith" the proposal of the European Union on a normalization of relations between the two countries, although it has not been signed no deal.

Borrell met today in the town of Ohrid in North Macedonia with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, to draw up a road map for the application of the European plan.

Kosovo and Serbia "have fully committed to respecting all the articles of the agreement and implementing them in good faith," Borrell said after a 12-hour meeting.

The community politician was trying to negotiate with his interlocutors how to implement the details of the agreement proposed on February 27 in Brussels by the EU.

This pact provides that Belgrade and Pristina recognize the official documents of both countries, in such a way that citizens can travel freely between one and the other, and that Serbia does not prevent Kosovo's entry into international organizations.

It is about seeing how the agreement is implemented, the practical steps, who takes them and how. They say the devil is in the details, and sometimes the devil is in the schedule," Borrell said.

He admitted that it was not an easy negotiation, noting that “one does not meet twelve hours for something simple” and that the original EU proposal had been “more ambitious”.

He announced that Kosovo had committed to "immediately" launch negotiations with the EU to cede an "appropriate level of self-government" to the Serb community in the country.

But he added that unfortunately there is no signed deal as Kosovo "lacks flexibility" and Serbia "has refused to sign anything as a matter of principle" even though it is willing to implement the deal.

Borrell stressed that the pact to normalize relations is a fundamental piece for both countries on their path towards integration into the European Union and that not implementing it "would have consequences".

Carrying out this normalization "has significant benefits for both countries" and not only favors them but also "the stability and prosperity of the entire region," he stressed.

Borrell announced that on Monday he will inform the community foreign ministers at their meeting in Brussels and on Thursday and Friday the leaders of the European Union at their summit in the same city.

 

https://www.elespectador.com/mundo/europa/serbia-y-kosovo-llegaron-a-acuerdo-para-normalizar-sus-relaciones-falta-la-firma-noticias-hoy/