03:12Macedonia: Serbia, Kosovo agree on implementation of EU plan to normalise ties - Borrell in Skopje
Serbia and Kosovo reached an agreement on implementing a EU-backed plan on normalising relations, EU High Representative For Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell announced in Skopje on Saturday.
Speaking at a press conference, Borrell said "I am glad to announce that finally, after 12 hours, we have a deal. We have an agreement on how to do it. So I can announce that Kosovo and Serbia have agreed on the implementation annex of the agreement on the path to normalisation of relations between them - between Kosovo and Serbia. As part of this annex, the parties have fully committed to honour all articles of the agreement and implement all their respective obligations expediently and in good faith.”
He went on to say that Kosovo has agreed on launching a process to grant an "appropriate level of self-management" to the Serbian communities in the region, adding "The parties also agreed to endorse the declaration on missing persons as negotiated under the EU facilitated dialog as a matter of urgency.”
Borrell explained that the agreement is binding and key to the respective countries' path to EU accession. "Not-fulfilling will come with consequences," he warned before concluding "Serbia and Kosovo need to normalise their relations. There is no way around it."
The comments came after 12 hours of negotiations between the parties with Serbian President Alexandar Vucic and Kosovarian leader Albin Kurti present alongside international envoys.
Last month, both parties have tentatively endorsed a 11-point EU-brokered plan on normalising relations, a move that has sparked opposition in Serbia which has regarded Kosovo as its province, while its unilaterally declared independence was recognised by about 100 countries worldwide including 22 EU member states and all G7 member states.
03:12Credit: EBS+
Serbia and Kosovo reached an agreement on implementing a EU-backed plan on normalising relations, EU High Representative For Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell announced in Skopje on Saturday.
Speaking at a press conference, Borrell said "I am glad to announce that finally, after 12 hours, we have a deal. We have an agreement on how to do it. So I can announce that Kosovo and Serbia have agreed on the implementation annex of the agreement on the path to normalisation of relations between them - between Kosovo and Serbia. As part of this annex, the parties have fully committed to honour all articles of the agreement and implement all their respective obligations expediently and in good faith.”
He went on to say that Kosovo has agreed on launching a process to grant an "appropriate level of self-management" to the Serbian communities in the region, adding "The parties also agreed to endorse the declaration on missing persons as negotiated under the EU facilitated dialog as a matter of urgency.”
Borrell explained that the agreement is binding and key to the respective countries' path to EU accession. "Not-fulfilling will come with consequences," he warned before concluding "Serbia and Kosovo need to normalise their relations. There is no way around it."
The comments came after 12 hours of negotiations between the parties with Serbian President Alexandar Vucic and Kosovarian leader Albin Kurti present alongside international envoys.
Last month, both parties have tentatively endorsed a 11-point EU-brokered plan on normalising relations, a move that has sparked opposition in Serbia which has regarded Kosovo as its province, while its unilaterally declared independence was recognised by about 100 countries worldwide including 22 EU member states and all G7 member states.