Von Croamon: Both Kosovo and Serbia guilty of lack of progress in dialogue

Both sides are guilty of the fact that progress in negotiations between Pristina and Belgrade is slow, European Parliament rapporteur for Kosovo Violet von Cramon-Taubadel said in Brussels.

In 2013, under the direction of the EU, Kosovo and Serbia achieved what is already known as the Brussels Agreement on normalisation of relations, and both sides accuse each other of its violations, reports Croatian news agency “Hina”.

The negotiations have intensified last week, so Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq met twice, at the end of February in Brussels and mid-March in Ohrid, where with the mediation of EU High Representative Josep Borrell, Kosovo and Serbia agreed to implement the EU agreement on normalising relations.

However, they have not yet signed anything.

Vuciqi's main condition is the formation of the Association of Serb-run municipalities in Kosovo, agreed with the Brussels Agreement in 2013.

Violet von Cromon, a Green representative, considers both sides equally guilty of delaying negotiations and signing the agreement.

“E knows it is easier to blame (Serbian president Aleksandar) Vuciq, but he understands Serbia's future will not be in Russia or Beijing. His people will not study or buy in Moscow. Most young people in Serbia see their future in the western part of Europe”, it added, broadcasts Clankosova.tv.

“But Pristina did not ease things and did not help at all by telling everyone before the meeting in Ohrid that they would not agree to anything similar to association. I think the fault is, unfortunately, bilateral”, von Cromon told reporters in Brussels.

Serbia criticises Kosovo for failing to allow the formation of association, which Kosovo, on the other hand, compares to Republika Srpska in BiH, alluding to the instability contributed by the authorities of this multi-Serb entity.

A compromise is needed on both sides

Borrell said after the Ohrid meeting that an agreement for Association had been reached. Kosovo has agreed to start immediately, and when I say right away, I mean negotiations with the European Union that would facilitate a dialogue to create a specific agreement and guarantees to ensure a proper level of self-government for Serb communities in Kosovo”, Borrell said.

After the meeting in Ohrid, Vucinqi has confirmed that some agreement has been reached, but has said he has signed nothing. “Today we had to agree to a implementation plan, we have reached some sort of agreement, I am satisfied with this”, Vuciqi said.

It would be much easier if Kosovo were to actively prepare the signing of implementation, said von Cremon-Taubadel.

She said Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti will probably offer any proposals for the implementation of association, but the question is how serious the proposal will be and whether it will include the opinion of representatives of Serbs from the country's north.

This does not mean that we will likely see a solution for the entire dialogue soon”, she added.

The Kosovo side must understand that a compromise is in the interest of their people and that it is necessary for the future of the next generation, Eurodeputja said.

“If we do not find a compromise on both sides, we will not see significant progress in European integration or stabilisation of the region. For me there is no doubt, we must protect Kosovo's independence and integrity and at the same time ensure that what was signed in Brussels in 2013” is respected by the European Parliament's rapporteur for Kosovo, Violet von Cremon-Taubadel.