Kosovo government: Franco-German plan, good “base” for further talks

“We have given our comments and remarks, as well as have expressed willingness and will for intensifying discussions on this proposal”, says spokesperson for Kryeziu for Radio Free Europe.

He gives no details of what remarks or comments the Government of Kosovo has given.

The EU proposal, also known as the Franco-German plan, envisions equal rights for Kosovo and Serbia, respect for territorial integrity, invisibility of borders, recognition of state symbols and a special arrangement for the Serb community in Kosovo.

In the text of the proposal, which provided and published The REL the day before, there is no mention of mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia, or Kosovo membership in the United Nations Organisation, things in which Kosovo officials publicly insist.

A version of this proposal has already been submitted to both countries.

Some representatives of opposition parties in Kosovo share, as well, the opinion that the EU proposal -- even as such -- provides an acceptable basis for further talks with Serbia.

“ [With this proposal] relations between Kosovo and Serbia are regulated on the basis of UN Charter chapters for relations between states”, says Alliance for the Future of Kosovo Chairman Ramush Haradinaj, for Radio Free Europe.

“I believe the base is stable and this agreement [proposal] is stable, and [in the end] resolves the pending issue of Kosovo-Serbia mutual recognition. I don't see that it will be needed again in the future to negotiate bilateral recognition, because [this proposal] resolves the Kosovo relations knot”, Haradinaj says.

From the other opposition party, the Democratic League of Kosovo, Deputy Chairman Lutfi Haziri says this party still has no firm stance on the EU proposal.

“We, basically, have given the dialogue support, but the consensus for such documents has not been reached. We haven't said yes yet, or rejected a document that wasn't presented to us and was not asked to give support to”, Haziri tells Radio Free Europe.

Kosovo and Serbia, with EU mediation and US support, have been negotiating the normalisation of relations since 2011.

They have reached dozens of agreements, but the implementation of most of them on the ground has stalled.

In Kosovo they say dialogue should end with mutual recognition, while in Serbia they insist on compromise solutions, but without specifying much of what they mean with it.

Knowing the political circumstances in Kosovo, Beftman Pacarizi, professor at the Department of Journalism at the University of Pristina, says the EU proposal should be accepted, only if negotiations around it eventually lead to mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia.

“Plan as such, as if it were a final plan, would not have to be accepted by Kosovo, because it does not provide even mutual recognition and, therefore, does not ensure even long-term peace”, says Pajarizi.

Since the end of the summer, information on the existence of such a proposal has circulated in the opinion, but, until recently, they have not been confirmed by EU officials.

Last week, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell confirmed that Kosovo and Serbia have already received a version of the plan.

In the document he has secured The REL underlines that Kosovo and Serbia will have both the goal and principles set out in the United Nations Charter, respectively, respect for independence, autonomy, territorial integrity and the right to self-rule, as well as the preservation of human rights and non-discrimination.

Under the proposal, the parties would develop good neighbourly relations between themselves, based on equal rights, as well as recognise each other's symbols, including passports, car plates, diplomas and customs stamps.

All disagreements, according to this proposal, Kosovo and Serbia would choose by peaceful means, refraining from threats or the use of force.

Officials in Serbia have said earlier that the proposal is not favourable for them.