Serbia seeks association with executive competency

The Kosovo government has issued a communiqué after this meeting, in which the topic of discussion is said to be resolving financial claims and property issues between the two countries.

Under this subject, it is talked exclusively today about pensions and cadastrin. Despite the long discussion on these topics, there is still no significant approach to attitudes. But, however, compliance has been achieved that the discussion of this element of the general agreement, financial claims and property issues between the two countries will continue at the next” meeting, the Kosovo Government Community said.

The director of the Office for Kosovo in Serbia's Government, Petar Petkovic, who is participating in these meetings on behalf of the Serbian side, told the media in Brussels that during Thursday's (October 29th) meeting, they raised the issue of forming the Serb majority municipalities' Association, and insisted on implementing the Brussels Agreement, which according to him, “is necessary for the continuation of the dialogue, but also for building much needed confidence between the two parties”.

“Without the formation of Association, we cannot progress in dialogue. We will see how the Pristina side will now act on the issue. It speaks of the possibility of formation, as the Constitutional Court, which is unacceptable because it has not agreed to it in Brussels, is not part of the principles agreed on in 2015. Something that might be called the NGO (Nogovernmental Organization) we don't need, we need a serious institution, the Association of Serb-dominated municipalities with executive competence”, Petkovic said.

According to him, by forming an association of Serb majority municipalities, the Serb people in Kosovo can “exercise collective rights that they do not now enjoy”.

He added that property and financial claims have also been discussed, issues that were discussed at the previous meeting.

“We have discussed property and financial claims for what we have different views, but both sides have presented their positions”, Petkovic said.

“What is important for Belgrade is that every time we come here to Brussels, we are fully prepared with our experts and our proposals, like approaching a certain problem. When it comes to property and financial claims, we insisted that we first establish clear principles and mechanisms for resolving this important issue, which, among other things, has burdened our relations for many years”, Petrovic added.

The chief of the Serbian delegation said that in order to further normalise relations, it is necessary to discuss “many other issues meaning compromise”.

“Compromis means both sides win or lose the same. So, meet me somewhere halfway. But for one side to gain everything and the other to lose everything, this is unacceptable to us”, he added.

Kosovo's delegation represented Skender Hyseni, the co-ordinator for dialogue, while experts have been with him on topics pertaining to economy and finance, as the parties are expected to discuss financial and property claims.

Even at previous meetings, the parties had first bilateral meetings with European Union envoy for dialogue Miroslav Lajcak, and later joint meetings between the two sides.

Thursday's meeting comes after more than a month, since the last meeting was held.

This meeting was scheduled to take place at the end of September, but was postponed due to preventive measures as a cause of pandemic, but also due to the obstacles presented about topics in dialogue, which the parties disagreed with.

The chief of the Serbian delegation said the next meeting would be determined depending on the European Union's planning. /Rel