Lajcak: The deal is implemented by the end of the year, Kurt's request that it all begin with de facto unrealistic recognition

The process of implementing the agreement on normalising relations between Serbia and Kosovo should begin this year, otherwise several years of effort could be lost. Thus stated EU special representative for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina Miroslav Lajcak during a meeting with journalists Friday. News releases T reporter ASR, I follow the Express.

Serbia and Kosovo held a new round of negotiations Thursday in Brussels for normalising strained relations, but failed to overcome their differences. European diplomacy head Josep Borrell warned that this could harm their hopes for EU membership.

In an interview for T ASR, the Slovak diplomat recalled that the process of normalising relations reached a <x0 turning” after the two sides in February and March in Ohrid agreed on essential documents leading to normalising bilateral relations.

“However, true implementation of the agreement has not started in six months. Both have a great degree of disbelief in each other. They say give me what I deserve and then I'll do what's necessary,” described the Lajcak situation.

He added that it does not work that way, and for this reason the EU presented a seven-point proposal allowing both sides to move in parallel. For example, that Pristina will start negotiating guarantees for Serbs in northern Kosovo and that Serbia will gradually start fulfilling its obligations. According to Lajcak, the EU proposal is transparent and measurable, it could stop at any time if one party stops meeting its obligations.

He described Thursday's negotiations between Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic as difficult. Kurti rejected the new EU proposal, Vucic agreed.

“Kurti insists on a document that will de facto begin with the recognition of Kosovo by Serbia and only then do its part of the job, which of course is not a realistic path before”, Lajcak explained.

He has stressed that at this moment it is not necessary for the EU to focus on further negotiations with Kosovo and Serbia. However, it is launching a series of consultations with EU member states Britain and the US, which the UN General Assembly session will also exploit. The aim of these consultations is to achieve in a unified and co-ordinated response of the international community to relations between Serbia and Kosovo.

Lajcak stressed that it is essential that implementation of the agreement on normalising relations begin this year. If the process can arise and begin, it will continue next year.

If those fundamental decisions are not made before the end of the year, I am afraid that the political calendar in Europe and the United States will be to push this agenda to the end. I am convinced that the Ohrid Agreement is the best document. Both sides accepted it and would be ashamed of falling into the dust. In that case, we expect more conflicts, escalation of tension and perhaps even more violence in northern Kosovo”, it has ended.