Kosovo-Serbia relations are deadlocked

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, as part of the Pristina-Belgrade Dialogue, which was initiated to normalize relations under the mediation of the European Union (EU).

The parties met for the first time since the agreement reached on 18 March in Ohrid, North Macedonia.

THE LATEST SITUATION IN KOSOVO-SERBIA RELATIONS

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Defense Policy Josep Borrell shared the details of the meeting with journalists.

“We've made good progress,” Borrell said. "Agreed on the Declaration on Missing Persons. The status of the Union of Serbian Municipalities (ZSO) was discussed”.

Although a symbolic step was taken to establish the ZSO, which was agreed 10 years ago, comments were made that the situation was alarming after the extraordinary local elections held on 23 April in northern Kosovo.

Warning that low turnout elections could lead to "conflicts" in northern Kosovo, Borrell reiterated his call for Kosovo and Serbian officials to engage in constructive negotiations and reach compromises.

SERBIA CALLS KOSOVO TO FULFILL ITS OBLIGATIONS

Speaking after the meeting, Serbian leader Vucic said, "I am not very optimistic, but I can promise that we will do our best to maintain peace and stability."

Emphasizing that a dead-end was entered during the dialogue process, Vucic stated that the previously reached agreements must be implemented, otherwise everything will fall into the water, and said, "It is not possible for us to move on to future agreements without the implementation of the agreements reached in the past."

The parties committed to agreeing on operational details at the level of chief negotiators at the next meeting to be held as part of the dialogue.