Germany hosts agreement in Ohrid on implementation of European proposal

The German Embassy in Belgrade told Radio Free Europe that advancing towards European integration of Western Balkan states is the goal of the Berlin Process, but in the case of Kosovo and Serbia there is an obstacle on this road.

Unresolved reports between Kosovo and Serbia continue to present obstacles. The new summit in Ohrid marks an important step towards overcoming this obstacle and advancing the European road”, the German Embassy said.

At the Ohrid meeting, the parties are expected to discuss the plan to implement the EU proposal.

According to official Berlin, the European proposal for normalisation of reports, agreed on February 27th by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, aims to establish a stable and reliable basis for reports between the two states.

For this to succeed, both sides must agree to implement the” agreement, the German Embassy said in response sent to the REL.

Despite accepting the proposal and agreeing there is no need to negotiate further, Kurti and Vuciq have not signed the 11-ton document.

Kurti has expressed herself willing to sign Serbia's <x0-capitalisation “, under the EU, the signing of the agreement, but Vuciq has declared that it is not in his mind to sign Serbia's <x0.

The 11 provisions document, which has been made public by the European Union, does not specifically mention mutual recognition, which the Government of Kosovo has said should be the focus of an eventual agreement on normalisation of reports.

However, Article 2 of the proposal mentions that parties must respect each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The proposal also includes the parties' commitment to honour all agreements reached so far in the dialogue on normalising relations, as well as their commitment not to prevent each other from obstructing integration processes.

Kosovo and Serbia hold dialogue under EU mediation since 2011. But both states have different goals as regards a final agreement. Kosovo insists on mutual recognition, meanwhile, Serbia seeks compromise solutions.