Balkans | European Union: Kosovo and Serbia take the first step towards normalization

The High Representative of the European Union for External Relations and Security Policy Borrell announced that the representatives of Kosovo and Serbia have agreed on the text concerning the unaccounted for persons in the negotiations on the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement.

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Relations and Security Policy, made a statement on his Twitter account regarding the negotiations initiated yesterday by the representatives of Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels regarding the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement.

Borrell announced that the chief negotiators had reached an agreement on the text of the declaration regarding the unknown persons at the meeting held yesterday, and described this as the “first step” towards normalization.

Borrell said he would hold a meeting to approve the text by the leaders.

A call for restraint

Borrell stated that Serbia and Kosovo have made commitments on the path of normalization and the annex to the agreement, “The European Union expects both of them to fulfill all their obligations and start implementing them as soon as possible. The parties must avoid any climb. The translation of their commitments to European paths continues.” He rated it.

Relations between Serbia and Kosovo

Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic agreed on an agreement that would normalize relations between the two countries in negotiations that lasted nearly 12 hours in Ohrid, North Macedonia, on March 18, mediated by the European Union.

The 11-point agreement that will normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which was made public, does not force 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. . Kosovo is required to establish a “Federation of Serb Municipalities” which will have self-government rights in settlements where most Serbs live in the country.

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

Serbia considers Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence in 2008, to be its territory.

Serbia and Kosovo, which clash periodically, are trying to find a common way to normalize relations, and eventually the two countries get to know each other, within the scope of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue process initiated in 2011 with the mediation of the European Union.