March 18th meeting in Ohrid was chosen for a powerful reason

The decision to hold a new round of negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia in Ohrid has also been influenced by the Serbian president's stance that Northern Macedonia is the only acceptable host country in the region, Macedonian portal “Noova TV” announced today, citing diplomatic sources.

As writes (novatv.mk), Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, along with European diplomacy chief Josep Borrell, after all previous meetings in Brussels offices and in the margins of various international conferences, will meet for the first time in the region Ohri will be the host of the meeting on March 18th.

The location, added, was chosen after the EU's decision to hold talks between Belgrade and Pristina at this critical stage in the Balkans, and Ohrid was chosen as the host city so that the EU “demonstrates its position on the Ohrid Agreement (from 2001) as a successful model for resolving disputes, which should also be inspiration for the Serbian leadership and the Kosovo-Kosovo task force.

The decision on Ohrid to be the country for a new round of negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, reportedly, “was also taken because of Serbia's president's position that Northern Macedonia is the only acceptable country in the region as a host country. for the talks, which are heating up in terms of finding the solution to the Kosovo problem”.

According to diplomatic sources of “Noova TV”, EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell considers that, in this case, North Macedonia should be given recognition as a stable strategic partner of the EU, as well as successes with Prespa and Ohrid agreements, which the EU estimates as an example in the region for the peaceful resolution of disputes.

In Brussels on Monday, February 27th, following a new round of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Borrell said leaders of the two sides agreed that no further talks on the EU's proposal for normalisation of relations are needed, but that additional negotiations are needed for the implementation modalities.

The cabinet of the prime minister of Northern Macedonia confirmed the next day that Kovachevski is ready to host the Kurti-Wukic meeting under negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia under the auspices of the EU and the US on 18 March.

As warned, EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Josep Borrell and EU Special Representative for the Western Balkans Miroslav Lajcak will also attend this meeting.