Brussels congratulates Petkovovic's Bissim for constructive approach to Tuesday's negotiations on unfinded

The European Union Foreign Service has announced in recent hours the result reached at today's meeting between Kosovo and Serbia, mediated by Miroslav Lajcak.

The report reportedly after broad negotiations led by Lajcak, Kosovo and Serbia's chief negotiators, Besnik Bislimi and Petar Petkovic, “agreed in Brussels on terms of reference for the establishment of the Joint Commission for Missing Persons on the basis of the Declaration for Missing Persons adopted by Serbia's President Allexandan Vuq and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin 2023x1> on May 2nd.

It is said that the Joint Commission, headed by Lajcak, will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Declaration on Missing Persons.

In particular, it will monitor the co-operation of the parties on a range of issues.

“For identification of cemetery locations and subsequent excavations; For access to accurate and reliable information, including all relevant domestic and international documentation, use of satellite data, light and intelligence (LIDAR) and advanced technology for the discovery of mass cemetery; And respect for the rights of missing persons' families”, the EU Foreign Service report says.

The Joint Commission will also reportedly monitor and support Kosovo and Serbia in advancing their co-operation under the Working Group for Missing Persons led by the International Red Cross Committee (KNKK).

“The EU welcomes that Kosovo and Serbia reaffirmed that the issue of missing persons is a humanitarian concern and stressed the urgent need for additional efforts to close cases for affected families and the wider community. Out of 6,065 cases of missing persons in January 1, 1998, December 31, 2000, 1,607 remain unresolved”.

“The EU praises both sides for their constructive engagement and approach, which enabled the outcome today. The EU's facilitator invited the parties to appoint their respective representatives for the first meeting by mid-January next year, as defined in Reference Terms”, further said in the communique.

The EU said today's progress is an important step forward in normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia and implementing the 2023 Normalisation Way Agreement.

The “is in direct behalf of people in Kosovo and Serbia. The EU urges both sides to start implementing the Agreement as a whole”, the EU Foreign Service communiqué said.