Escobar and Lajcak in Kosovo: What will the President and Prime Minister say about Zeyednica?

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has said today that the proposals he is talking about -- for enhanced autonomy or association of Serb municipalities with executive competencies -- have not been introduced to Kosovo institutions.

President Osmani spoke today before the meeting he will have with US special envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar and the European Union's special envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak.

I'll meet them around 4:00 today. However, I want to clarify from now that the proposals that are being referred to as having expanded autonomy or any kind of association with executive competence have never been introduced to our side, namely the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo”, Osmani said.

Osmani, during what he did today at Podujevo Witness Square, stressed that the former Kosovo prime minister has signed harmful agreements that have given executive competencies to the association of Serbian municipalities.

“What is the big problem is that they have been representatives of the Republic of Kosovo who have signed harmful agreements which the Association of Serbian municipalities has given executive competencies. So we have to say a reality that is, because it's black in white, it's a letter signed by the former prime minister of Kosovo, and the responsibility should be taken as such. And therefore these trends then speak of responsibility in the international community and hide money from the international community do not do Kosovo a favor. As representatives of the Republic of Kosovo, we are determined not to allow ourselves to be implemented in our country, which has been built with many sacrifices, models which would make our state dysfunctional”, she said.

Osmani, questioned about the reports that “will have proposals for an association of another form with what has been so far and a proposal for some kind of autonomy in the northern part of Kosovo”, said Escobar has stated that his request is not to implement models that would turn Kosovo's north into a “Republic Sbrska”.

Osmani further said that Kosovo's positions on the issue of association of Serb municipalities remain the same.

“I believe that you have heard of both the new US ambassador and Escobar in the latest interview, saying that his request is the opposite of what you mentioned, so that no models can be implemented that would transform Kosovo's north into a new “Republic Srbska”, so that no executive competency is required, nor is it required that a model be transformed this association into a middle or third level of governance, which would be contrary to the Kosovo Constitution. Our stances on association have been clear, it's not that they're a surprise to anyone, including our international friends, so we're discussing with them how to push the dialogue process forward, towards what is the only, sustainable solution not just for us like Kosovo, but for the entire region, which is mutual recognition”, Osmani has declared.

Until, Prime Minister Albin Kurti stressed that with the diplomat Escobar he never met, but he just spoke on the phone.

Kurti said the right thing is that attitudes and thoughts about meeting with diplomats will be given after the meeting takes place.

I, with the special representative of the United States for the Western Balkans, Escobar, meet today for the first time, have talked to him twice on the phone, but I have not met until now. Today I will have my first meeting with him and the EU special representative, I believe that after the meeting it is fair and better to give up our stances and opinions”, Kurti stressed.