The EU message to Kosovo and Serbia: If you have European aspirations, behave in a European way

Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vucic, reacted sharply Thursday evening to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Minister Rasic, but also as the European Union's mild response said. He even warned that he would not attend the bloc's meeting with the Western Balkans on December 6th in Tirana.

The bloc's spokesman, Peter Stano, said Friday that the European Union expects Serbia and Kosovo to act in a European way.

If you have European aspirations, behave in a European way. The European approach means refraining from unilateral steps, refraining from steps that increase confrontation, leading to escalation and engage in finding solutions in a European manner”, said Mr Stano.

The Serbian president said Friday after a meeting in Belgrade with European Union Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhely that, however, he will consider participating in the Tirana summit, since the European Union calls it very important under the global situation. He underlined, however, that he would sign every word he has said about Kosovo Prime Minister and Minister Rasic.

You have the right to put anyone in the government. The worst you can think of, you can get at the bottom of the pot, and so are they. But why are you lying that they represent the Serbian people?”, the Serbian president said.

“I can talk about attitudes and ideas, can talk about mutual reconciliations and differences, but cannot talk about the level of courtesy of our northern neighbour's state head”, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said already in Pristina on Friday.

Minister Rasic's appointment took place less than a month after the resignation of former Minister Goran Rakic from the ranks of the Serbian List. The resignation followed the disagreement of Serbian representatives in northern Kosovo with the central government's decision to convert Serbia's vehicle plates.

Nenad Rasic, Minister for Return, Community in Kosovo Government

The European Union called for parties to discuss the return of Serbs to institutions, while stressing that the ministers' appointments should be in line with the Kosovo Constitution.

“From the preliminary reading of yesterday's appointment turns out it does not meet the constitutional criteria, but this is in the hands of the Constitutional Court to determine”, said Mr Stano.

The Kosovo government said the decision is in accordance with the country's Constitution and the authority of the prime minister, who said this week that the departure of Serbs from institutions was a political decision and that their return should be done on legal grounds.

On November 23rd, Kosovo and Serbia reached an agreement regarding the use of car plates that led to reduced tensions in Kosovo's north, but not even the return of Serbian workers to institutions. The European Union warned intense talks between the sides of a normalisation agreement between them, on the basis of a plan that became known as the French-German initiative that has the support of the United States.

The plan that has not yet been made public envisions a normalisation agreement that does not include mutual recognition of Kosovo, Serbia, but the commitment of the parties that will not prevent each other from integration processes and membership in international organisations.

The EU said on November 23rd that the “pals understand that all past agreements reached in the talks must be implemented”. Officials said this also implies the establishment of the Association of Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo, which is also the most controversial issue in talks between the parties.

The US envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said Thursday that association “should be established”, and if this issue is not resolved, there will be an ongoing cycle of crisis.

“I think that the government in Pristina should see this issue as the opportunity. There are models in Europe that provide rights for minorities”, said Mr. Escobar.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Friday that minority rights are regulated by a separate chapter in the Kosovo Constitution that those who are dissatisfied with the Constitution should have the burden of testing and argument to show what is not right and what is not enough.

“As for the Association of Serb majority municipalities I do not have a new answer but, of course, in chapter 4 of the overall framework of the agreement that has been presented by August 18th in Brussels, I have also said there will be consideration for all the agreements reached in Brussels and their implementation, but it cannot be this first chapter and it cannot be from only one of the most important, the most important and the most priorital”, Prime Minister Kurti said. / VOA