Kusari-Lila on charges for the EU: Serbia constantly violates agreement provisions, as Kosovo puts pressure on

The European Union must change its approach to dialogue, Vetevendosje Movement Parliamentary Group chief Mimoza Kusari-Lila has said, as the process so far has not been successful and it is necessary to have a different format after elections in the EU and with a new European mediator.

To the latter, she says that besides former Slovenian president Borut Pahor, there are other candidates.

She is optimistic that Kosovo will join the Council of Europe by the end of 2024, while adding that an intermediate solution will be found to move ahead with the association of Serb majority municipalities.

The head of LVV deputies, in an interview for Kosovo Press, declares that the current EU approach in dialogue is decomposing the sides to be more productive. It cites the encouragement the EU is according to it doing to Serbia, despite the terrorist attack on Banjska and the violation of the Brussels agreement.

“is also required to approach and target and format. We believe that so far, in the way dialogue was structured, in the way communication was made for dialogue has not produced much success. It turned out that not putting the responsibility of those who violated the agreements does not bring progress in the dialogue. On the contrary, the parties decoupled to be more productive in dialogue. Serbia gets out without measures, without sanctions, constantly violates the agreement's provisions, while Kosovo is being pressured... He cannot give recognition, since he does not know what other names are. It was only former President Pahor, who has only introduced readiness to be a mediator, has been even more vocal, has been more active in the media. We have information that there are other candidates interested or that there have been interest, but their names have not been made public”, Kusari-Lila said.

Speaking of Kosovo's failure to membership in the Council of Europe, Kusari-Lila is optimistic that this will happen before the end of this year. It expects a reflection by the Council of Europe member states regarding their request for concrete steps to establish the association of Serb majority municipalities.

I see this can happen no further than at the end of 2024. So this year will still be the year our efforts for membership in the Council of Europe... I hope to have serious reflections from member states, but in the other hand, Kosovo is aware of what is being asked or what was then made a condition in the Council of Ministers, although we have never withdrawn from obligations inherited from previous agreements. They must be conforming to the country's Constitution and actual functioning of the state”, it declares.

It emphasises that the government does not comply with the draft EU-proposed status, so it has not prosecuted it at the Constitutional Court. Kusari-Lila believes that a solution can be found, where the association statute is an authentic document of the Kosovar side, which, as she says, will be made in co-ordination with international allies.

That draft-state to be sent to the Constitutional Court must become the government's decision. We have been clear that to get the stamp and logo of the government must have compliance. The government must also agree to its overallity of the material that has been delivered. The government has not generally agreed with that material and submitted its comments, which have not been taken into account. So we have to have a document, which has not only the stamp of government, but also all the support... I'm pretty sure we're going to go with an intermediate solution, because there's no other way. We see communication and the importance of reports with all states, including those that have insisted that the draft association state go to the Constitutional Court. But I think that all should have it clear that the first are the international obligations that Kosovo has, and second, they cannot insist on something that then inside Kosovo can cause problems. Therefore, I believe that in this time process the intermediate solution will be when there is something authentic from Kosovo itself. Of course, it is also discussed with international partners, but ownership should be of Kosovo”, Kusari-Lila claims.

Regarding the closure of Serbia's six Savings Post units in the north, it says it was done because of the extent of sovereignty and legitimacy in that part, as it expresses surprise at the international response to the dinar issue.

I am surprised that actions that are still being severely opposed, aimed at establishing legitimacy in the north. This has been expected. The Government of Kosovo's efforts already for five months to find a solution to the issue of aid or social assistance Serbia does for Serbian citizens in Kosovo have been continuing. There have been seven meetings in Brussels, continued engagement, proposals, alternatives not accepted by the Serbian side... That the international community in some form sends protest marks to the Government of Kosovo when there is commitment to establishing legitimacy, this is a bit strange. This has been a process that has had time and commitment to resolve... I don't think the international factor has gone completely uninformed. It may not have been received approval, but it is the same as not receiving approval for a police action elsewhere in Kosovo, in the function of establishing order and law, or stopping any illegal activity”, Kusari-Lila points out.

According to her, it would be paradoxical that, due to the extent of legitimacy in the north, there will be continuing punishment measures against Kosovo.

The “would be paradoxical as if a state activity for order and law, to disrupt illegal activities within its territory would be forwarded with duration of measures. Meanwhile, activities aimed at destabilizing the region do not receive even rhetorical criticism more severe. But the terrorist attack in Kosovo has been condemned and the killing of our hero, but there have been no consequences for Serbia”, it concludes. / KP