Escobar: The issue of signatures is not important, parties have agreed to their obligations

In virtual conversation with journalists, the American emissary for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar called the “relevant” and “Historical” agreement signed between Kosovo and Serbia in Ohrid.

Although the agreement has emerged without any signature between the parties due to Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciqi's refusal, Escobar says it is a legally binding agreement and the parties will be tried for its fulfillment.

This agreement is a legally binding obligation for both sides and both sides will be judged by their performance under the agreement. And this agreement will continue to be the basis of our policy, for the United States, continuing and the basis for European engagement in the region”, Escobar has said.

The next “steps are for both sides to begin with implementation, as stressed on Saturday. Both sides have legally binding obligations that they must fulfill. On the Serbian side, it is the beginning of recognition of several documents from Serbia Kosovo and other national symbols and identification documents and things of this nature. For Kosovo, it is important for them to begin drafting their version of the Serb-run municipality Association. There are many other obligations, but I think they're the most important”, he said further.

Citing Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq, who has said he does not sign documents with Kosovo and will not apply anything concerning Kosovo's membership in the United Nations, Escobar has been asked what the legally binding <x0) agreement implies.

The American emissary insists that the agreement between Kurti and Vuciqi in Ohrid constitutes a legally binding “agreement in every aspect”.

Vice President Borrell made it very clear in his press release that what we have is a meeting of thoughts, we have a pledge, and now we have obligations on both sides. And both sides will be judged on their European path with the fulfillment of what has been agreed on”.

Escobar says the issue of signing is not important because the two sides, by their own will, have agreed to take over.

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary asked for the work done by the US so that Serbia would not prevent Kosovo's membership in international organisations, and Kosovo to grant special rights to the Serb community, has said:

I think that, for Kosovo, the most important thing is and the most convenient thing to do is greater Euro-Atlantic integration. So this is our focus, integration into European structures. For Serbia, their insistence on implementing the legally binding obligation for launching negotiations on association ʹ launching talks and implementing the Serbian Major Assembly Association remains key”.

And, identifying the most important issues for both states, Escobar said that “will find ways” for implementing commitments to the “as soon as possible”.