Chief of the EU Office for Association: All agreements Must Be observed

Kurti said he would only talk about his six months of governance' report on what it said that progress has been achieved, according to the report in this period. While the chief of the European Union Office in Kosovo has said that all agreements reached in Brussels, including for association, must be implemented.

The chief of the Kosovo executive regarding the establishment of the Serb majority Commission Association said it is an old question that has no new answers, since the Constitutional Court's decision, but the Kosovo Constitution itself leaves no room for one for mono-ethnic solution.

Kurti has talked about the jobs done in these six months of governance, and of which he said they have created an institutional and highly trusted stability on the part of citizens. He said that from the time they came to the helm of the government, they have destroyed 29 criminal groups and intensified the fight against smuggling.

“In these six months of government, we have institutional stability democratic legitimacy and high credibility in institutions on the part of citizens and which constituted major social progress that would envy not only the countries of the region but not a few EU member states. In the area of rule of law in these six months, or about 200 days, we've made 320 decisions at government meetings by 60 bills, and 12 draft laws, two concepts, a strategy and a regulation... Of course the path towards the EU requires reform and major achievements, but in these months of our governance we have proved that we are on the right track and on this path to moving together in partnership and with the full support of the European Union”, he said.

While Ambassador Thomas Szunyog said that the Progress Report says all agreements included in 2013 should be implemented for association, but according to him that in what form it will be, it belongs to the Kosovo side.

Of course, both the EU and this is in the report of the implementation of all the agreements, and this included the agreement from 2013 and I would like to remind everyone that the 2013 agreement has not been agreed and negotiated only under the framework of dialogue, but has also been agreed by the Kosovo Parliament, so with a constitutional majority, and it is a law of this country that if we speak of the rule of law, must be implemented, and I would also add that it belongs to Pristina and the Kosovo side to suggest that how to apply, of course, we are aware of the Constitutional Court's decision which we have in mind with the different terms of those not only of 2013, but if one law is to be implemented once and one of course, and one of course, the EU law is to have to be implemented, and one of course, and one of course, and one of course, let the laws that's all of course be observed by the law, and the EU.

Speaking about forming association, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said it is an old question for which there cannot be new answers.

This is an old question for which I can't have a new answer, so even the Constitutional Act published on December 23, 2015, and the petition with over 200,000 citizens in 2015, and the spirit of the Constitution and our institutions leaves no room for mono-ethnic solution, and that doesn't mean that we don't listen carefully to the demands of Serbian citizens in Kosovo, which for us are entirely different from the form and from the content with Belgrade's aspirations. I am the prime minister of Kosovo and serve all citizens, regardless of ethnic affiliation”, Kurti said.

The chief of the European Union Office in Kosovo, Thomas Szunyog, said that the Progress Report says Kosovo's limited progress in the fight against organised crime and corruption.

The EU enlargement process is based on criteria and requires implementation of complex reforms in order to take over membership obligations in order for the process to move forward, needs to realise overall and reachable results in the field of rule of law, reform in justice, fight corruption and security crime in fundamental rights, public administration reforms and competitiveness. In Kosovo the report gives gratitude for the progress made in some of the areas... The fight against corruption and organised crime has seen limited progress, and there must be investigations and final decisions in the tribunal and the seizure of assets. There has been rehabilitation and integration of terrorists and their families there is a legal framework guaranteeing legal and fundamental rights”, he said.

While, in terms of the report's assessment that an agreement on normalising Kosovo-Serbia must be reached urgently, the chief of the EU Office said as soon as a comprehensive agreement is reached is better, but that depends on both sides.

“I can generally say that dialogue is continuing, as it turned out, with experts going to meet on the issue of car license plates in Brussels, so there are technical contacts yesterday on some specific issues related to more general aspects and high-level political themes I have to say that the EU only brokers dialogue, and depends on how they will agree to the speed of those negotiations, but also on the agenda of negotiations, so from our point of view, of course, the sooner we reach a comprehensive, legally binding agreement, the better it depends on both sides how they agree to the pace of the negotiations and the implementation of the negotiations, he said.

Asked about European diplomacy chief Josep Borrell's reaction following Kosovo Police's action against smuggling in the north, Ambassador Szunyog said the EU does not question the issue of fighting crime and corruption.

I don't see any contradictions in these requests and reports, with a statement issued by the High Representative. As the EU, we do not question the issue of fighting corruption and corruption crime that is something we consider important, and we urge the Government of Kosovo to continue and intensify efforts in this direction. When we've had specific cases of interest, and also in terms of communication of this operation, there have been two specific issues that have questioned and now there have been statements. We call on the Government of Kosovo to continue with these efforts and reforms, to continue with this active approach to the problem, which is not only for Kosovo, but the entire region”, he said.

As for the Vetting Process, which is presented as a concern in the Kosovo Progress Report, the chief of the EU Office said they are analyzing this document, but that their opinion is to use other instruments that are not used to assess the integrity of judges and prosecutors.