Let the association be: Some of the international messages before Kurti-Vucciq meeting

What did the EU's special envoy say about the Ohrid summit?

The EU's special envoy for dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, has voiced determination that the Association of Serb majority municipalities will take place. He said the Association Agreement has not been fulfilled for ten years, but added that without the formation of Association, there is no agreement between Kosovo and Serbia.

“I believe our proposal is fair and useful for Serbia and the region, not here to change history but to change the future we had a meeting on February 27th in Brussels, and there was agreed that there is no longer any need to discuss the text of our proposal, which has been made public on the EU page. However, in order for that text to apply, we have to agree on the rules what is the sequence of steps, who should do what and when. The level of trust between the two sides is low and both sides require guarantees”.

Save EU High Representative Josep Borrell said it is now time for Kosovo and Serbia to agree, until it has called on the parties to accept the European proposal.

“It is time for the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia and the entire Western Balkans to show courage and demonstrate responsibilities for success and accession to the European Union has done their part, and the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is a central part of my mandate. No one said such a monumentic task as facilitating a normalisation agreement would be easy. There have been reductions, and very often considered small and technical issues have proved very sensitive and political, with the potential to turn to violent”.

Borrell has added that the fight of Russian aggression against Ukraine changed the view. According to him, dialogue is not only about Kosovo and Serbia, it should be seen in the current wider geopolitical context, a defining moment in European history.

“in September 2022, we supported by leaders of Germany and France and our American friends made a bold proposal to Serbian President Vuciq and Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti. A proposal that would put an end to crisis management and instead would shift attention to normalisation and reconciliation, and that would help the entire region move forward towards Europe. That's why now is the time to focus on the widest view and not let another window of opportunity be closed in front of its”, he has declarated.

US Emisari Gabriel Escobar has said he expects positive results from the March 18th meeting in Ohrid.

Escobar, called on Kosovo and Serbia to be constructive and flexible before the meeting in Ohrid.

The European proposal for normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia is one of the best opportunities to move the region forward and create peaceful conditions for all people living in the region. Our expectations are that both leaders will be able to listen to each other and that they will work to make this deal a reality. To think of obstacles, to look for ways to overcome them and leave the meeting, realizing that they will continue to work to resolve”, the US special envoy for the Western Balkans said.

While France, Germany and Italy have come up with joint statements prior to the March 18th meeting in Ohrid. Special advisers for French president's foreign policy and security, German Chancellor and Italian prime minister, have come up with a joint Op-Ed, in which they have suggested it is time for decision-making. It says the agreement should now be put into place as soon as possible by a clear guide for implementation.

At the Ohrid meeting on March 18th, Kosovo and Serbia, under the European bloc's mediation, are expected to discuss the plan to implement the EU's proposal for normalisation of relations, which is part of the Serb majority municipalities' Association.

What is the Association of Serb majority municipalities?

The agreement on forming an association that would unite ten municipalities inhabited by Serbs in Kosovo is described as one of the most problematic agreements in the dialogue on normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

Signed with the European Union's mediation in 2013, the agreement has never been implemented.

The agreement was negotiated by former Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and former Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic.

The association was expected to gather ten municipalities in Kosovo, where the majority of the population are Serbs: Northern Mitrovica, Klokot, Partesh, Ranilug, Gracanica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok, Novoberda, Leposaviq and Shrpca.

In 2015, Kosovo's Constitutional Court had said the agreement on association conflicts with the Kosovo Constitution at 23 points. /Albina Zariqi - PERISCOP