Escobar seeks agreement on license plates before November 21, and mentions Association

In an interview for Tanjug, Escobar has called on Kosovo and Serbia to show maximum flexibility and reach an agreement in the coming days and ahead of the 21 November deadline, after which the Kosovo government has warned it will fine Serbs who do not convert illegal plates to RKS.

It has also called for the parties to implement the obligations they have achieved in the dialogue, such as establishing the Association of Serb-based municipalities.

“Then the parties must double their obligations to dialogue, including implementation of already signed agreements, meaning the start of negotiations for the establishment of the Serbian Communists Association”, he has said.

Escobar stressed that it agrees with the EU that recent events are disturbing.

The withdrawal of Kosovo Serbs from Kosovo institutions is not a solution to current disputes and has the potential to further escalate tensions on the ground. All sides must take steps to reduce tensions and ensure peace and stability”, he added.

For the establishment of the Association, Escobar said: Kosovo's “Assembly ratified the Brussels Agreement and the Constitutional Court of Kosovo decided that the establishment of the Serbian Communist Association, which makes the formation a binding legal obligation for Kosovo”, is necessary.

Asked whether there are American diplomatic activities on the issue, Escobar says there is “a full partnership with colleagues from the EU”.

He supports the Franco-German proposal for resolving the Kosovo issue. It adds that details of the proposal are being discussed within the EU dialogue.

We strongly support it. I assume that after talks between the two governments will start a greater engagement with the public”, he points out.

Escobar does not plan any visits to Pristina or Belgrade soon.