German government: Agreement on Association of Serb Major Assemblys to be in line with Kosovo right

German government spokesman Stephen Seibert said on Monday (28.09.20) in Berlin that in the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, which is under the direction of the EU, all issues still open should be considered: „it is very important that both sides work towards reaching compromise, regardless of their natural differing views”, said Seibert.

“The goal is a truly comprehensive and legally binding agreement for the full normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo”. And to reach such an agreement, Belgrade and Pristina must consider all open issues,” said Seibert at the news conference in Berlin, answering a DW question.

Asked about the Association of Serb majority municipalities, Seibert recalled the two agreements previously reached within technical dialogue, in April 2013 and August 2015. „For characteristics and then for precise competencies, precisely must be agreed on this basis, and they should be in line with Kosovo law”, Seibert said, and added: „Association Comissions are described very clearly in these agreements and they include, for example, education, health, economic development, etc. ”

The issue of the Association of Serb-run municipalities has been turned into “Thaci agrees that this topic does not have to be addressed in the political dialogue under way in Brussels between Kosovo and Serbia. According to diplomatic circles from Berlin, the issue of association was the reason why the next Hoti-Vucic meeting, originally in Brussels, was not held.

The establishment of the Serb majority municipalities Association is envisioned with an agreement within Kosovo-Serbia dialogue in Brussels in 2013. Later in 2015, Kosovo and Serbia under the European Union's mediation reached an additional agreement to establish this association, which spoke of executive competence. In addition to education, health and economic development, Serbs were given the competence of urban and rural planning.

But Kosovo's Constitutional Court in interpretation of this agreement found that the principles for Association are not in line with the Constitution. However, the Constitutional Court has determined that principles can be harmonised with legal acts of the Government of Kosovo.