The American envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, emphasized that the agreements reached between Serbia and Kosovo carry a legal obligation for both parties. Whether they formally sign these agreements or not, their commitment to implementing them remains unaffected.
During a recent meeting with European leaders in Brussels, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti expressed his willingness to accept and endorse the statute for establishing the Association of Serb-majority municipalities. In contrast, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić made it unequivocal that he would not accept anything that implies de facto recognition of Kosovo.
When asked about the next steps following these contrasting positions, Escobar pointed out that these declarations do not align with the reality, as these agreements hold legal binding status. Both leaders have acknowledged this fact, as he noted.
Furthermore, he emphasized that both leaders committed to these agreements in front of the European Union and the United States. They bear specific obligations, with Kosovo taking on the responsibility of establishing the Association and Serbia recognizing Kosovo’s customs documents, license plates, official documents, and other related matters.
Escobar stressed that the United States fully supports the dialogue, with the remaining concerns centering on the timing and the specific methods the two parties will employ to fulfill their obligations.
Kosovo and Serbia reached an agreement on the Association in 2013, and later in 2015 on its founding principles.
However, in 2015, the Constitutional Court of Kosovo found that the agreement was not fully in line with the Constitution. As a result, official Pristina refused to implement that agreement.
On the other hand, Belgrade has insisted that the Association be formed as agreed in Brussels, without some points being harmonized with the Constitution of Kosovo, as proposed by the Constitutional Court of Kosovo.
Kosovo and Serbia are part of the EU-mediated dialogue for the normalization of relations, which began in 2011.
The parties have signed a series of agreements, but not all of them have been implemented.
Regarding the resignation of Aleksandar Vulin, the head of the Serbian Intelligence Agency (BIA), Escobar commented that Vulin had long been a highly destabilizing figure in the region, which formed the basis for American sanctions.
As for Aleksandar Vulin’s claim that he resigned due to pressure from Washington and Brussels, with both demanding this action as a condition to avoid sanctions on Serbia, Escobar clarified, “We (the USA) do not make decisions on behalf of the Serbian Government”.
