Serbia finally recognizes Kosovo border by staffing Common Border Crossing Point at Merdare

Gazeta Express

14/10/2020 18:18

It took Serbia nine years to finally implement the Integrated Border Management deal in full by operationalizing the Merdare Common Border Crossing Point. Functionalization of the border crossing was part of the accord between Kosovo and Serbia on economic normalization signed at the White House on September 4.

Back in 2011 Pristina and Belgrade signed the Agreement on Integrated Border Management (IBM) as part of the EU-facilitated dialogue with parties agreeing to build permanent border crossings between the two countries enabling authorities of both countries work under one roof.

When the agreement was signed Kosovo side claimed that with the IBM Agreement Serbia has accepted Kosovo’s Independence, whereas Serbian side insisted that the IBM does not mean recognition of Kosovo and continued referring to the border crossings as administrative lines.

Although the Common Border Point facility at Merdare financed by the EU was finalized last year, Serbian side refused to use the new facility with the Serbian police and customs still working in temporarily facilities. But Serbian side finally agreed to move its staff at the new facilities. The move was welcomed by the US Government and President Donald Trump’s special envoy on Dialogue, Richard Grenell. “Big move. Thanks to President Donald Trump, Serbia makes Merdare border crossing operational,” Grenell wrote on Twitter. Ambassador Grenell was retweeting a statement of the US Ambassador to Belgrade, Anthoney Godfrey who on Tuesday called Serbia’s move as great news. “By staffing Merdare, Serbia will help grow regional trade and commerce, which is at the heart of the September 4 agreements signed at the White House. This is an important step forward for prosperity and stability” Godfrey wrote. Also, a spokesperson of the US State Department Wednesday applauded the move.

The Kosovo Police told Gazeta Express that its police and customs officers have staffed the new facility long time ago. “The Kosovo Police have already moved to the new facility and are carrying out their duties in accordance with the law,” a police spokesperson said. Work on the first permanent crossing point between Kosovo and Serbia, financed by the EU, started in 2017, but Serbian side has continuously refused to staff the common crossing point. /GazetaExpress/