Kosovo Dialogue Serbia: It requires a productive meeting, Kurti é Vuciq

Kosovo and Serbia in last week exacerbated political rhetoric on charges and counter-accuses, and banned bilateral visits by government officials, thus making the European Union react. Pristina authorities prevented the head of the Office for Kosovo's Kosovo entry in Serbia's Government, Petar Petkov, at the same time the Serbian delegation for dialogue with Kosovo.

MPJ: Petkov uses stimulating language

The Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “Petkovic, despite continuing to provide assurances that he will refrain from promotional statements, on his recent visits to Kosovo, he has made provocative Ibrahimx1> statements.

The “contrary to the obligation taken and the pledge to be taken by provocative and inciting statements of hatred, he has consistently in the last three visits openly used hate and promotional languages, climaxing in his recent visit to the inauguration of the so-called authorities in North Mitrovica”, the Kosovo government's official said.

Petkov: Stop visit of “pointless”

Petar Petkov had planned to stay two days in Kosovo to participate in a manifestation at the Decani Monastery. He said that the ban to enter Kosovo is “meaning”. “This is the fourth time the authorities in Pristina obstruct the visit of the director of the Office for Kosovo. The question is whether international factors are willing to curb Albin Kurti in his structural campaign against all the achievements of the Brussels Agreement and the agreements reached in Brussels during the dialogue process. With every movement you're making, Albin Kurti distances us from the dialogue”, it was said in the reaction of Petkovic's office.

and Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabiq voiced the ban on Petkovic's visit, calling for the EU's reaction. The weirdest thing in this situation is that this ban happens only days after the European Union has been explicitly calling on Pristina to honour the agreements and allow Petkov to visit Kosovo”, Brnabiq said. The Serbian prime minister addresses the European Union:” I ask the European Union and the international community, how long is that? How long do you think you tolerate this Pristina behavior?

According to the Serbian medium Novosti, Brnabiq has been addressed with an EU request: “asked by the European Union to clearly determine Pristina's behaviour and eventually to let us know whether the aim of dialogue is to normalise relations and ensure a normal life for its population in Kosovo, or whether these are negotiations that are intended in themselves. ”

Serbia retaliates

It did not take long and only two days after, Serbia's government did not allow a visit of four Kosovo ministers to the Presevo Valley and the ban decision, Serbian authorities communicated to Kosovo authorities just hours before the departure, the visit was designed to be conducted by Minister of Infrastructure Libran Aliu, Economy Minister Hekuran Murati, Minister of Education, Arberie Nagavci and Culture Minister Hajrullah Ceku. Infrastructure Minister Lieburn Aliu said the visit to the Presevo Valley was planned long ago, and Belgrade's refusal was for no reason.

Our “Visita, by the authorities in Belgrade, was rejected without any excuse shortly before our delegation was launched. In line with the procedures and agreement in Brussels, we have made regular application with the November 24th, also presenting the visit agenda. In the negative response received through our liaison office in Belgrade, there is no reason to refuse”, Lieburn Aliu wrote. According to him, refusing to visit the Presevo Valley “is an open obstacle to helping discriminated Albanian citizens in Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanoc”, Aliu wrote.

EU: Serbia, Kosovo fully implement all agreements

The EU has reacted after the situation created with the ban on bilateral visits by Kosovo officials to Serbia and Serbs to Kosovo. EU spokesman Peter Stano said that “Pristina and Belgrade should implement all agreements signed earlier for normalising relations between the two states”. One of the agreements is also allowing previously announced visits to the respective countries of both countries' officials.

“We expect Serbia and Kosovo to fully implement all past agreements, including the agreement on official visits. Official visits are an important part of normalising relations, as they provide an opportunity for more interaction and communication between the” parties, Peter Stano said. He says that “under the agreement, all visits must be conducted in a way that will advance the normalisation process or contribute to overall work in the context of the dialogue process facilitated by the European Union”.

Return to dialogue?

International authorities constantly urge Kosovo and Serbia to return to the dialogue table for normalisation of relations. Within just two weeks, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti spoke twice over the phone with the US officer for monitoring the policies of Western Balkan countries, Gabriel Escobar. In a Kosovo prime minister's announcement the previous day reportedly “The US is committed to having progress in dialogue and supports Kosovo and its goals towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration”.

“During the phone conversation was also discussed about talks between Kosovo and Serbia facilitated by the European Union. In this regard, Prime Minister Kurti said Kosovo engages in a principled dialogue, towards a legally binding agreement at the centre of which is mutual recognition. Meanwhile, US Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Escobar said the US supports this process and is committed to making progress towards its final goal.

It is expected before the end of this year to have a meeting between Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbia's President Aleksandar Vuciq, but this has not yet been confirmed. EU High Representative Josep Borrell said that “Kosovo and Serbia should return to the negotiating table”. “As far as Kosovo and Serbia are concerned, we have had many tensions during the summer. The situation is quieter lately. But the dialogue needs to be restored because there is no other way to stabilise the” situation, Josep Borrell said. A week ago in Pristina and Belgrade remained the EU's in charge of dialogue Miroslav Lajzak in an effort to arrange a meeting like what Kosovo-Serbia has been saying. According to him, “The EU hopes the meeting will be held before the end of”.

It's not about meeting, because leaders have met twice, but as you know there hasn't been any positive results. This time, our ambitions are different and it's not only about organising the meeting, but it's also about proving what the results will be”, Lajcak said, adding that the “pals have expressed good will for the dialogue process, and we just have to make sure the meeting produces results”. / DW