EU welcomes advances in Serbia Kosovo talks
Date
1/28/2016 9:20:46 AM
(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) In a new round of EU-brokered talks on normalising relations Prime Ministers Aleksandar Vucic and Isa Mustafa discussed the implementation of former agreements including college diplomas freedom of movement - but also the hotly contested agreement on forming an association of Serbian-majority municipalities in Kosovo. "The mutual acceptance of educational and professional diplomas and certificates is becoming a reality... We also significantly advanced on implementation of the agreement on Freedom of Movement in particular on the provisions on license plates" EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said. She added that further discussion on the Association of Serbian-majority municipalities which opposition parties in Kosovo have denounced as well as direct air and rail connections between Kosovo and Serbia. Mustafa and the head of the Serbian government’s office for Kosovo Marko Djuric saw the outcome of talks somewhat differently. Referring to the Association of Serbian municipalities which has raised a storm of protest in Pristina and went to the country's top court for assessment the Kosovo Prime Minister said that "nothing can function unless it is line with the ruling of Kosovo's Constitutional Court." In late December Kosovo's Constitutional Court approved the creation of the municipal association but in a nod to opponents of the deal said some of the principles of the agreement did not fully comply with the spirit of the Kosovo constitution. Mustafa said that while the Kosovo government analyzes the court ruling working groups can start drafting the Statute of the Association but will operate without any strict timetable. Djuric however said that Mustafa had "falsely interpreted" the outcome of talks. "In claiming that the work on the Statute of association of Serbian-majority municipalities will be done in accordance with the ruling of Kosovo's Constitutional court Mustafa told a direct lie" Djuric told reporters. "It is enough to read the statement issued by EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to find out whether Mustafa's allegations are true or false" Djuric added. Kosovo and Serbia launched a joint dialogue aimed at normalizing relations in March 2011.
Serbia does not recognise the independence of the former province of Kosovo proclaimed in 2008 and has said it will never do so but has entered into dialogue with Kosovo as a condition of the EU integration process.
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