US and EU envoys to Belgrade in efforts to cut Kosovo- Serbia

For the fifth consecutive day in northern Kosovo, roads leading to border crossings with Serbia continue to be blocked by Serb groups in recognition of the arrest of a former member of police under suspicion of involvement in the attack on Central Election Commission officials and police officials during the week, while preparations were being made for municipal elections in the north, which were contested by Belgrade-backed Serb representatives.

Kosovo police said today that the security situation in the country's north is unchanged and that the two border crossings at Jarinje and Brnjak continue to be closed due to the settlement of barricades.

Western diplomats are calling for the removal of blockades and the opening of the opportunity for talks between the parties.

European special envoy Miroslav Lajcak wrote today in a post on social networks that he has held a frank conversation with Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vucic, “to find political solutions that would reduce tensions and enable the removal of blockades in northern Kosovo. He understands the seriousness of the” situation, Lajcak wrote.

He said last night in Pristina he is committed to finding a solution to the situation created in Kosovo's north, while stressing that the best way to remove the barricades is if this is done as a result of a political agreement, not a Bulldozer.

The United States' envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said last night after meeting with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti that he hopes there will soon be a solution to the current crisis in Kosovo's north, while stressing that it is time to discuss the start of implementing the agreement to establish the Association of Serb majority municipalities. He said he made this very clear to Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

“I have made it clear that we expect to start talking about the implementation of the Serbian municipalities' association, this I have made very clear”, he said.

The Kosovo government in its communiqué after the meeting did not mention the topic of Association as one of the issues discussed with Western diplomats.

Analyst Agon Maliqi said in a conversation with American Voice that American envoy Gabriel Escobar had clear messages for the government.

The translation “renders what Mr. Escobar said either means or the Kosovo government is included with proposals for the statute and the way you see association or by April I will find a ready draft which the American side will bring to this case. The second level of the order is that Mr. Escobar's offer for the United States to be themselves involved in this process, so in some form, as a guarantee that the association will be acceptable to Kosovo, and that is in line with previous statements that the United States does not prefer a Republika Srpska in Kosovo and see an association within the framework of the Constitution”, Mr. Maliqi said.

He said the issue of establishing association could also be linked to the European proposal for normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

Mr. Escobar said one interesting thing until April to start discussions on Association, so it is not the start of implementation of association, but to start discussions by April. I think it's positive because it strengthens Kosovo's negotiating position in the appointment of association competencies and links the agreement on the Franco-German proposal with association, so either we'll deal with it all or we won't agree on anything”, he said.

Western diplomats hope to boost talks with the European proposal envisioning normalisation of relations, but without recognition that does not include mutual recognition of Kosovo, Serbia, but the commitment of the parties that they will not prevent each other from integration processes and membership in international organisations. (Voe)