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Serbia, Kosovo Reach Agreement to Implement EU-backed Deal Normalizing Ties


European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell holds a news conference following meetings with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti, in Ohrid, North Macedonia, March 18, 2023.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell holds a news conference following meetings with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti, in Ohrid, North Macedonia, March 18, 2023.

Kosovo and Serbia have reached an agreement on implementing a European Union-backed deal to normalize ties, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said late on Saturday, though the two leaders said disagreements remain.

Kosovo and Serbia have been in EU-backed talks for nearly 10 years since Kosovo declared independence in 2008, almost a decade after war ended Serbian rule. But Serbia still regards Kosovo as a breakaway province and flare-ups between the Balkan neighbors have stoked fears of a return to conflict.

The agreement on Saturday came after 12-hour talks between Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and EU officials on implementing the deal, which both sides had agreed to in Brussels last month.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic speaks to the media, in Ohrid, North Macedonia, March 18, 2023.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic speaks to the media, in Ohrid, North Macedonia, March 18, 2023.

The two leaders held separate meetings with Borrell before a three-way session in North Macedonia.

"Kosovo and Serbia have agreed on the implementation annex of the agreement on the path to normalization of relations between them," he told reporters after meeting both leaders in the North Macedonian town of Ohrid.

Vucic told a news conference the parties have not agreed on all points.

"Despite differences, we had decent conversation," he said.

Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti speaks to the media, in Ohrid, North Macedonia, March 18, 2023.
Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti speaks to the media, in Ohrid, North Macedonia, March 18, 2023.

Speaking at a different news conference, Kurti said, "This is a de facto recognition between Kosovo and Serbia" since Serbia has not yet signed the agreement.

Borrell said the EU will now demand both sides fulfill obligations if they want to join the bloc, warning there would be consequences otherwise.

He also touched upon a proposed association of Serb municipalities in Kosovo, which would give greater autonomy to Serb majority municipalities, a long-disputed topic.

"Kosovo has agreed to launch immediately — and when I am saying immediately, I mean immediately — negotiations with the European Union facilitated dialog on establishing a specific arrangement and guarantees to ensure an appropriated level of self-management for the Serbian communities in Kosovo," the EU top diplomat said.

In the annex on the implementation of the agreement published on Saturday evening, the EU committed to organizing a donor conference within 150 days to set up an investment and financial aid package for Kosovo and Serbia.

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    Reuters

    Reuters is a news agency founded in 1851 and owned by the Thomson Reuters Corporation based in Toronto, Canada. One of the world's largest wire services, it provides financial news as well as international coverage in over 16 languages to more than 1000 newspapers and 750 broadcasters around the globe.

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