Petkov: We're going to start forming association.

During a media conference in Serbia, he said this would be the answer if Kosovo authorities do not give up their intention as of August 1st to start implementing decisions on license plates and Serbian IDs.

There is nothing to expect. If they can behave as they please, then it is normal for Serbs to start creating association. Ten years have passed and they must secure their rights”, Petkov said.

Asked to give details about the formation of Association, Petkovovic replied:

We will inform you in time of everything”.

Kosovo and Serbia have reached agreement on forming association in 2013, within the dialogue mediated by the EU. In 2015, the parties also reached agreement on the principles of establishing this association, but implementation of the agreement has stalled. In the same year, Kosovo's Constitutional Court had said that 23 provisions of the agreement are not in harmony with the Kosovo Constitution.

The Kosovo government insists there can be no one-ethnic association, yet Serbia has consistently insisted on forming it.

At the conference on July 30th, Petkov said the association would enable collective and individual rights for Serbs in Kosovo.

Petkov's statements come as on August 1st the re-registering of cars that have an acronym plates of Kosovo cities and are issued by Serbia. These plates from official Pristina are considered illegal.

The reregistment process is expected to last until September 30th.

Also on August 1st, all citizens entering from Serbia's territory in Kosovo will be equipped with a document for entry and exit. According to authorities in Kosovo, the same practice Serbia applies to Kosovo citizens for 11 years.

Petkovic said that the Kosovo Government's decisions, in terms of reregistering cars and inflowing documents, are <x0 illegal>”.

He said that in terms of IDs, authorities in Kosovo are referring to Article 3 of the Free Movement Agreement reached within dialogue.

According to this article, the <x0pals must implement a system where IDs will be attached to documents that write access and exits for residents of the other parties who want to travel transit to a third state of”.

The non-written sub is for documents used to enter and exit [the state] issued to residents of the other side, is that this [decision] specifically refers to Serbs living on Kosovo territory”, Petkovic said.

He said Article 3 of the agreement refers to the citizens of Serbia living in Serbia, and not, as he said, those living in Kosovo.

“ [Kosovo Prime Minister Albin] Kurti is not interested in the agreement, he is interested in removing Serbian IDs for Serbs living in Kosovo. He wants to remove the existence of the state of Serbia” from Kosovo's territory, he added.

Meanwhile, earlier on July 30th, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said Kosovo does not prefer these temporary documents, but added that authorities will act as Serbia does with Kosovo citizens for more than a decade.

Kurti has also urged Serbs to respect these Kosovo decisions. Through a video message in the Serbian language, Kurti said the June 29th Kosovo Government's decision should not be seen differently through as “responding to rights violations, your rights, as subjects of the Republic of Kosovo”.

This is what we are starting to start now on August 1st, Serbia has begun implementing it 11 years ago. We will be available by testifying that every act of ours is just law enforcement which, as such, treats each and all the same”, Kurti said.

The Kosovo executive has earlier announced that the entry and exit document will be issued at all land and air crossings and will be valid for 90 days, just as the document Serbian authorities issue for Kosovo citizens when they enter Serbia.

This document will also equip those under 16 who have no identification documents but who have to have birth certificates. / REL/