The Minister for Local Government Administration in Kosovo, Elbert Krasniqi, dismissed the members of the Management Team, who compiled the draft statute on the Association of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo.

The team was comprised by 4 members of the Serb community, namely: Danijela Vujičić, Jelena Bolović, Igor Kalamar and Dejan Radojković.

Krasniqi dismissed them, after the team already presented the draft statute on the Association during the Brussel meeting between Kosovo and Serbia on Tuesday.

His decision is also based on the Brussel Agreements towards normalization between both countries.

The Office for Kosovo in the Serbian Government called the decision “biased” and “unlawful”.

“The mandate of the Management Team does not end with the presentation of the draft statute. It has an important role in the process of creating the Association, until it is established,” said Petar Petković, director of the office.

Kosovo and Serbia reached an agreement in creating the Association in 2013. The Managing Team was appointed in 2016, to compile a draft statute. The agreement on the Association, however, has yet to be implemented. Serbia insists it must have broad powers, but Kosovo refuses it, on the basis that it threatens its state functionality.

There is increasing pressure by internationals on Kosovo to finally create the Association.