Support for the negotiations of Spain and Slovakia

Elena Aljarilla Cortezón, Communications Counselor of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement that Spain continues with its position of not recognizing the independence of Kosovo.

Stating that the EU representatives support efforts to prevent conflicts between the two countries, Cortezon said: “We advocate that the Kosovo problem be resolved through dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. The time has come to make a decisive effort to solve the Kosovo problem,” he said.

Noting the importance of implementing a possible agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, Cortezon said: “The outcome of the February 27 meeting was a step forward, but more work is needed to reach an agreement on the ‘normalization of relations at the base’. of the EU proposal’, which was welcomed by the European Council in February. “While it is positive that both Belgrade and Pristina agree on the text of the proposal without any changes, there will be no final agreement without a clear plan on how it will be implemented,” he said.

In the statement of the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the last negotiation meeting between the two countries was described as an “important step” towards the normalization of relations.

“This could be a driving force for further negotiation to reach a legally mandated agreement that allows for a full recovery of relations. We look forward to the implementation of all previous agreements and a constructive approach from the parties in the next rounds of negotiations,” the statement said.

It was also emphasized that Slovakia has the full support of the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Relations and Security Policy, Josep Borell, in the negotiations between Kosovo and Serbian.

Kosovo’s independence is not recognized by the EU member states Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and the Greek Cypriot side.

Kosovo’s First Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Development and Dialogue, Besnik Bislimi, called on these 5 EU members to recognize Kosovo if an agreement with Serbia is signed.

THE NEGOTIATIONS WILL BE CARRIED OUT ON MARCH 18

The EU announced that the next meeting of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo will take place on March 18 in Ohrid, North Macedonia.

In a written statement from the office of the EU High Representative for Foreign Relations and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, “The meeting will focus on finalizing the Implementation Plan of the EU Agreement for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia ”. information was shared.

Serbia considers Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence in 2008, as its territory.
Serbia and Kosovo, which regularly clash, are trying to find a common path towards normalizing relations and, ultimately, getting the two countries to know each other, within the framework of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Process launched in 2011 under EU mediation.

Borrell said on February 27 that Kosovo and Serbia have agreed in principle to normalize relations, but more time is needed for the agreement to be implemented. (AA)