Kosovo PM Hoti convinced final agreement with Serbia to be reached by the end of this year

Gazeta Express

10/09/2020 11:46

Kosovo and Serbia most likely will sign a historic peace agreement within 2020. The path towards final reconciliation between Pristina and Belgrade seems to have taken a positive trajectory after increased involvement of Washington and Brussels, Gazeta Express reports.

The White House agreement on economic normalisation reached last week between Kosovo and Serbia at the presence of the US president Donald Trump, and ongoing meetings of Kosovo and Sebria leaders as part of the EU-facilitated dialogue in Brussels, indicate about positive outcome of the negotiations between the two countries.

A final peace agreement might be signed by the end of this year. This is at least what Kosovo prime minister Avdullah Hoti said in an interview with T7 show Pressing on Wednesday evening. Hoti revealed details from the last week’s agreement with Serbia brokered by the US. He said that the Agreement reached in Washington was not about mutual recognition as reported by media. According to Hoti a paragraph of an initial draft presented to parties was referring to “mutual recognition” adding however that this was more about parties “respecting their non-majority communities, and their rights,” rather than mutual recognition.

Kosovo PM Hoti says that the expectations are for a final agreement to be signed by the end of this year. “Our expectations are to conclude the final agreement within this year. Based on the communications I had over the last months, especially over the last three weeks, I am convinced that we are moving towards this solution,” Hoti stated.

Hoti answering criticism of opposition parties on the Washington agreement, said that last week’s deal on economic normalization was the most important event for Kosovo since the country declared its independence in 2008. /GazetaExpress/