Belgrade to discuss new statute of community of Serbian municipalities in Brussels

1 year ago 47

Representatives of the Serbian government have accepted the invitation from the EU’s special representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Miroslav Lajčak, to resume talks in Brussels over the text of the statute for the Association of Serb Municipalities in north Kosovo.

The Belgrade delegation will travel to Brussels on Thursday, where the dialogue with Pristina will continue. A team of experts will also depart from Belgrade to examine the text of the statute, said Petar Petković, the director of the Office for Kosovo.

As announced after the meeting, Vučić claimed Serbia is always ready for dialogue, for respecting signed agreements, and reiterated that our country advocates for de-escalation, peace, and stability, essential for ensuring the survival of Serbs in Kosovo.

The reference to ‘signed agreements’ is telling as both recently agreed on EU backed deals were not signed by Serbia, and were instead verbally agreed, despite calls from Kosovo. Vucic has refused to sign the agreements since, and confirmed he will not do so.

“Once again, President Vučić detailed the special representative of the EU on the severity of the situation faced by Serbs, both north and south of the Ibar, expressing hope that the ongoing dialogue process will yield results,” the statement said.

Vučić insisted on the formation of the Association of Serb Municipalities, and discussions were held on other important topics within the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

“There was certainly talk about all other topics within the agreements that were signed or agreed upon in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. Belgrade has never shied away from discussions and dialogue,” said Petković.

Brussels recently announced a “balanced proposal for the establishment of the Community of Serbian Municipalities,” for which, they say, both sides have expressed a principled readiness to accept.

The Association of Serbian Municipalities (ZSO) is a self-governing association of municipalities with a majority population of Kosovo Serbs.

The proposal for the association emerged from the Brussels Agreement of 2013. By the powers granted by the European Charter of Local Self-Government and the laws of Kosovo, municipalities would have the right to cooperate in exercising their competencies through the association. It would have full oversight in the areas of economic development, education, healthcare, and urban and rural planning.

(Jelena Nikolić | Euractiv.rs)