Lajcak: No Association formation, no deal

The European Union's envoy for dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, in an interview for Serbian Radio Television, RTS, which is expected to be broadcast initially at 18:25, has said that without the formation of the Association of Serb Major Communities, there is no agreement between Kosovo and Serbia.

The Slovak diplomat, reports RTS, has repeatedly repeated that association should be formed and that according to him the purpose of the agreement is not to win or lose, but rather the goal is to create a favourable situation and open the European door.

Kosovo and Serbia will conduct the negotiator process on the basis of 11 points of what is now officially called “Agreement on the road to normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia”. Also, an agreement was reached to continue with the Slovak diplomat's flying diplomacy in Pristina and Belgrade.

Lajcak on Thursday and Friday met with Prime Minister Kurti to review the Anex-document of implementing the Pro-Agreement that should ultimately constitute a unified document. And for all of this, there will be a need for a new leadership meeting, on March 18, in Ohrid.

He in a proposal for the media after meeting with Prime Minister Kurti said he had a constructive meeting and that the expectations he had come to Pristina have already been fulfilled because, as he said, “to become legally binding document requires reconciliation for his implementation”.

The main goal of the visit is to see how Kosovo sees implementation. And this meeting has fulfilled my expectations in this” context, Lajcak said, as he added that he would then go to Belgrade with the same mission he is in charge of.

Meanwhile, in a media communiqué of the prime minister's office, it was said that the head of the Kosovo executive has expressed readiness to sign the agreement and has provided guarantees that Kosovo will be a constructive, responsible and dedicated party to the principles of liberal democracy and the European Union's values.

“In this spirit, he also expressed his expectation that the European Union will work towards successful conclusion of the Agreement for Normalisation process through its official signing at the next” meeting, the ZKM communiqué said.

Later, in an interview for ATV television, the Slovak diplomat has said he does not expect a signing ceremony in Ohrid, where the meeting between Prime Minister Kurti and the Serbian president is expected to be set, but the deadlines will be set after the parties have agreed to the document as a whole.

Otherwise, the European plan envisions, among other things, the fulfillment of the so-called agreements, including the one for the Association of Serb majority municipalities, which is the most problematic part currently in the Kosovo dialogue Serbia facilitated by the European Union.

The United States of America, on the other hand, stated that the agreement on European plan implementation guide is essential for normalising Kosovo relations Serbia, while progress towards establishing the Association of Serb majority municipalities essential for building Kosovo's future.

On the other hand, Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vucic, after meeting with the EU special envoy, said the conversation was difficult, conservative and that discussions would continue.

“We will continue tonight and tomorrow talk about Kosovo and Serbia's European future. Hail Serbia”, Vucic wrote in his account at the Instagram, after the meeting, which ended shortly after 15:30.

Meanwhile, in the press communiqué issued after the meeting by Serbia's Presidency, it is said Serbia was ready with “dedication and accountability” to approach dialogue aimed at reaching compromise and sustainable solutions.