Stano: Kosovo to establish Association immediately

On November 5th, Serb representatives offered to resign from local-level institutions in Kosovo, from the Judiciary, Police, as well as the Government and the Assembly of Kosovo.

The evacuations from Kosovo institutions occurred after the Kosovo government on November 1st began implementing the three-stage plan for reregistering cars with license plates issued by Serbia to those Kosovo Republic RKS.

Peter Stano, the EU's spokesman for Foreign Affairs and Security, has said at the press conference that tensions between Kosovo and Serbia could have a negative impact on the entire region.

He, responding to questions about the fate of the Franco-German proposal for agreement, and recent developments in the north, has said that <x0).priorities are lowering” tensions.

“ande are studying the answers on the sides, but now the top priority is to reduce tensions on the ground. In recent days we have seen the great danger of an transition, as well as developments that bring all achieved so far at risk. This could have major consequences not only for Kosovo and Serbia, but for the entire region. We call on both sides to be at the level of responsibility and find a European solution”, Stano has said.

Stano has reiterated the call for Kosovo to take immediate steps towards establishing the Association of Serb majority municipalities.

“As to the Association or Community of Serb Majority municipalities, this is a clear obligation for Kosovo to immediately establish it, or initiate immediate steps to establish this association. This is a Kosovo legal obligation and failure to do so harms not only the rule of law in Kosovo, but also its credibility. Now, indeed, it is up to both sides to implement the obligations that come out of the Brussels accords and dialogue”, he has said, underlining that, Borrell over the weekend had discussed with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vucinq.

“The EU wants to bring Kosovo and Serbia closer to a European solution, lower tensions and get involved in dialogue as soon as possible, because that is the only way out of the current transition. This is the road leading to European perspective for both partners”, he stressed.

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vuciq has said Serbs will not return to the Kosovo institutions until the Association of Serb majority municipalities is formed.

Kosovo and Serbia have reached agreement on Association in 2013 and later 2015 on principles for its establishment.

But, the Constitutional Court has said some provisions of the agreement are not in harmony with the Constitution and has added that they can be harmonised with sublaw acts by the Government of Kosovo.

The Kosovo government has been declared against a single-ethnic association.

Stano has also talked about the EU's concern that tensions between Kosovo and Serbia could have even broader effects on the region.

Every time there is local instability, this instability is exported and has influence in the wider region. We have seen this in the case of Russia and Ukraine. There is a brutal aggression of one state against another, but the consequences are not limited to these two countries alone, but affect everyone, worldwide”.

Stano has not ruled out the possibility that eventual violence from tensions created on the ground will spread further, reminding the countries that they should take the necessary steps so that this will not happen.

If we have a new explosion in the land of Europe, between Kosovo and Serbia, if tensions persist, no one can rule out [the possibility] that this could lead to violence. So, if something happens on the local level, this could affect the wider”.

This Europe cannot allow itself, Serbia and Kosovo cannot afford themselves or the region. Therefore, we call on leaders in Kosovo and Serbia to prevent the passing and further, to take more steps in the European spirit, and to reduce tensions”, this EU spokesman has said.

The European Union continues to invite parties to constructively approach dialogue and through it address all differences.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said Sunday he is in constant contact with international security bodies to ensure stability in Kosovo.

He said the security situation in the Republic of Kosovo is threatened by <x0ndid individuals and various criminalised groups, and in this year, one year and eight months, while we are in government, we have made the greatest advance in fighting crime and corruption, especially in the economic aspect of”.

Serbian officials in northern Kosovo have continued to submit their resignations to Kosovo institutions on November 7th. / REL/