No reciprocity in implementation of dialogue agreements

The Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) organised a visit to the Merdare border point with a part of Kosovo Assembly deputies to look closely at the implementation of agreements linking with the Kosovo dialogue, Serbia.

During a visit to the Merdare border point, Kosovo Assembly deputies were informed about the overall situation at this border point, implementation of the IBM agreement, as well as challenges and problems in implementing dialogue agreements concerning the free movement of citizens.

Some of the concerns which were raised by police commander at this border point Sefat Gashi were the lack of adequate infrastructure to cope with the large influx of citizens, the issue of non-recognition of Kosovo documents and license plates on the part of Serbia, as well as Kosovo's non-membership in green Carton, which are creating long expectations.

After visiting the border point in Merdare, KDI organised public debate with the citizens of this region in which the future of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue was discussed, as well as the outlook of citizens regarding the process.

Life Krasniqi from the Kosovo Democratic Institute stressed the need for an added role of the Kosovo Assembly, institutional co-ordination for the future of this process, stressing that the lack of reciprocity in agreements reached by both the license agreement or free movement are damaging the state of Kosovo, making Serbia privileged and unconditional by the official Pristina.

MP Time Kadrijaj from the AAK praised the fact that despite the dialogue process has aimed at stabilising relations between Kosovo and Serbia, this has not happened as a result of the failure to implement agreements reached by the Serbian side.

Kadrijaj estimated that in the new phase this process should be transparent, have political consensus, US direct involvement and complete with mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia.

Vetevendosje MP Saranda Bogujevci said the dialogue should come down from the elite to the citizens, while the integration of Kosovo's Serb citizens should be done through social equality and economic development and not through institutional privileges.

She stressed that in the future dialogue should include the issue of the dead, war crimes and Kosovo's internal affairs not being part of these talks.

Fidan Rekaliu, deputy of the Kosovo Assembly from the LDK, said dialogue should focus on resolving technical problems that would facilitate the lives of citizens. Rekaliu added that they will support any agreement which benefits Kosovo citizens, while adding that the Government should play its constitutional role in the process.

In co-operation with citizens, their discontent with the flow of dialogue has been highlighted so far that the agreements reached have not affected the improvement of their lives.

Citizens stressed the need for unifying the political spectrum, putting aside daily policies and building a joint platform of the state of Kosovo for these talks before the start of the new phase. The international competition's need for dialogue agreements was also stressed.

This discussion was organised under the memorandum of co-operation signed between KDI and the Assembly aimed at increasing citizens' participation within Kosovo-Kosovo dialogue. Serbia, as well as empowering the government's monitoring role, with funding of Swiss Embassy