Lajcak’s futile visit on resumption of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue

Gazeta Express

21/10/2020 15:57

The European Union has set no date on resumption of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, which was stalled last month after Kosovo is refusing to reopen the discussion on the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities, as requested by Serbia.

The EU spokesperson, Peter Stano, told Gazeta Express Wednesday that they are working for the next meeting and they will publish the dates in due time. “The work is ongoing to prepare further meetings in the framework of the Dialogue. We will announce date and agenda of the next meetings – be it on expert level or on top political level – when appropriate,” Stano said.

Gazeta Express has also asked Kosovo’s State Coordinator on Dialogue, Skender Hyseni, on resumption of dialogue, but received no answer.

Halting of the EU-facilitated dialogue in Brussels came regardless the visit of EU’s Special Representative on dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, who last week visited both Pristina and Belgrade. It seems that his visits yielded no results when it comes to bringing parties closer to resumption of the dialogue. Lajcak stated that Kosovo side agreed to establish the Association of Serb Municipalities, in accordance with the Agreement reached in 2013. But officials in Pristina have refuted Lajcak reiterating that the Kosovo’s position on Association remains unchanged.  

Lajcak has stirred reaction of Kosovo political leaders after he told media in Belgrade that Kosovo should change its Constitution to reach a final agreement with Serbia. But the EU officials in Brussels stated that Lajcak was misinterpreted and what he meant was that both countries need constitutional amendments if they want a final agreement.

“Mr Lajcak explained what happens if you negotiate an international agreement. When you reach an international agreement, the necessary legal adjustments need to be considered by the government, including at the constitutional level, in order to integrate it into their internal legal and constitutional order. This applies to both Kosovo and Serbia,” Stano told Gazeta Express on Monday. /GazetaExpress/