EU: Kosovo and Serbia take the first step towards normalization

The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Relations and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, spoke yesterday on his Twitter account about the negotiations initiated by the representatives of Kosovo and Serbia on the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement in Brussels.

Announcing that the parties’ chief negotiators reached an agreement on the text of the declaration on the unknowns at the meeting held yesterday, Borrell called this the “first step” towards normalization. Borrell has announced that he will hold a meeting for the approval of the text by the leaders.

Recalling that Serbia and Kosovo have committed to the path towards normalization and annexation to the agreement, Borrell said: “The EU expects both to fulfill all their obligations and start implementation as soon as possible. The parties must avoid any escalation. The translation of its commitments to European roads continues”.

11 ARTICLE AGREEMENT

Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic agreed on a deal that will normalize relations between the two countries in negotiations that lasted for about 12 hours in Ohrid, North Macedonia on March 18, under EU mediation.

The 11-point agreement that will normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which was publicly announced, does not oblige Serbia to recognize Kosovo’s independence, but requires both countries to recognize each other’s official documents and symbols, including passports, diplomas and license plates. registration. . Kosovo is required to establish a “Union of Serb Municipalities” which will have self-governing rights in settlements where the majority of Serbs in the country live.

Although Kosovo is recognized as an independent state by 117 countries, it is described as one of “Europe’s frozen conflict zones” due to ongoing ethnic tensions in the north and its inability to become a member of the United Nations.

Serbia considers Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence in 2008, as its territory. Serbia and Kosovo, which clash periodically, are trying to find a common path for the normalization of relations and eventually for the two countries to get to know each other, within the framework of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Process started in 2011 under the mediation of the EU . (AA)