https://english.gazetatema.net/kosovo-serbia-no-breakthrough-in-talks-between-chief-negotiators-and-eu-officials/
17 NËNTOR 2021, 17:04POLITICS
Chief negotiators from Kosovo and Serbia held a series of meetings with EU officials on Tuesday and Wednesday, but no meeting was held with all three sides present in it. After the meeting with EU envoy for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, Kosovo’s chief negotiator, Besnik Mislimi said the bilateral meetings with EU officials discussed areas such as energy, Kosovo’s representation in regional initiatives and people who’ve gone missing during the war and. Bislimi rejected all accusations made by Serbian officials, who say Kosovo is to be blamed about the fact that no meeting was held between all three sides in Brussels. Bislimi said that for the time being, the Kosovar side doesn’t want to discuss issues that relate to minority communities. According to him, this topic should be part of a comprehensive agreement.
On Tuesday, the Serbian chief negotiator, Petkovic said he had insisted that the issue concerning the establishment of the Association of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo should have been the first item on the agenda.
The Association is part of an agreement reached between Serbia and Kosovo in 2013 as part of the process of dialogue for the normalisation of ties between the two countries.
Pristina is against granting executive powers to the Association of Serbian Municipalities. A few days ago, Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti said during an interview for DW that “Kosovo’s Constitution does not permit a mono-ethnic Association” and according to him, at the time when the agreement was voted in parliament, Kosovo lawmakers were under immense pressure and that there’s been a lack of transparency on this issue.
On the other hand, Serbian president, Aleksandar Vucic says “Kosovo must establish the Association as per the agreement reached in Brussels”.
Nevertheless, the EU official who facilitates dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia has often urged the two sides to negotiate a comprehensive agreement where all issues are addressed.