In Brussels, focus on continuation of establishment of Community of Serbian Municipalities

The latest round of talks between Belgrade and Pristina, attended by the Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić and the head of the provincial government Isa Mustafa, and mediated by the head of European diplomacy Federica Mogherini, was an opportunity to look into the implementation of several agreements reached in the course of the Brussels dialogue, especially the agreement on the establishment of the Community of Serbian Municipalities.

The two Prime Ministers first had separate bilateral meetings with Mogherini and then a trilateral meeting was held.

During a break in the negotiations, Vučić stated for Radio Television Serbia that he hoped for an agreement on some issues pertaining to the establishment of the Community of Serbian Municipalities as early as tonight, the key issue being proceeding with the drafting of the statute and everything required for the Community to be established.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the Serbian Party was adhering to its principles and everything agreed and not to the decision of the so-called Constitutional Court of Kosovo.

Vučić said that the talks were very difficult, and that whatever was agreed tonight would be good, as it would mean that the process of establishing the CSM was unblocked.  

According to him, the CSM was the most important topic in the dialogue at the moment, but Belgrade's delegation would also strive towards holding the parliamentary elections in the entire territory of the Republic of Serbia as proclaimed under the Constitution.

“The chances are that the parliamentary elections will be held in the entire territory of Serbia. This is not the result of a complex arrangement or agreement, but it seems to be a reasonable position which no one sensible would wish to contradict at this point,” Vučić said.

The Prime Minister pointed out this was good news, as it will be possible to maintain the overall stability and the people will be able to express their political will in a peaceful and dignified manner.

After the talks, Mogherini said that discussion focused on the commitments both sides undertook to work towards the implementation of the Agreement on the Establishment of the Community of Serbian Municipalities, on the basis of the agreements signed so far.

She expressed satisfaction that progress has been made concerning the recognition of diplomas, as well as in the implementation of the agreement on the freedom of movement, adding that both sides agreed to start talks on direct flights and railroad connections.

In a statement made after the meeting, Mogherini said that today's talks were held in a very good atmosphere and focused on the implementation of agreements reached in the dialogue: the agreements on the recognition of university diplomas and freedom of movement from 2011, the Brussels First Agreement from 2013, and the agreement from August 2015.

"Today we confirmed that the mutual recognition of educational and professional diplomas and certificates is becoming a reality. Accordingly, students will be able to continue their studies, and experts will be able to advance their chances for employment, both in Serbia and in Kosovo. We also made significant progress in the implementation of the agreement on the freedom of movement, especially in the part related to the license plates, " Mogherini explained.

Both sides, according to her, agreed to start talks on the direct flights and railroad links between Kosovo and Serbia.

Mogherini thanked the prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo on their commitment to further normalize relations in the framework of the dialogue.

"Today's meeting has demonstrated their willingness to make progress by opting for a constructive approach. We are all aware of the need to make decisions that will bear direct and tangible benefits to the citizens of Serbia and Kosovo, who wish to see progress on the European path," said Mogherini.

The EU will, as announced, continue to support full implementation of today's agreements, as well as of those previously made, to further the progress in the normalization.

While Mogherini accurately informed the public on the results, the provincial premier Isa Mustafa made several false statements on the content of the latest round of dialogue.

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Đurić stated that Mustafa incorrectly interpreted the outcome of this round of dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, especially regarding the development of the Statute of the Community of Serbian Municipalities.

"Mustafa's claim that it was agreed to work on the Statute of the CSM on the basis of the decision made by the so-called Kosovo Constitutional Court is a straightforward lie," Đurić told the Tanjug.

Đurić said that another lie was Mustafa's claim that it was not agreed to immediately start drafting the CSM Statute.

"It is sufficient to look at the statement made by the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini to verify whether Mustafa's allegations are true or false," he says.

Đurić highlighted the fact that the leaders of the separatists in Kosovo and Metohija did not even bother to leave the EU building before launching into incorrect interpretations, adding that this said a lot about their relationship towards the commitments made in the overall process of normalization of relations.

Following the latest round of dialogue, the provincial Prime Minister said that the agreement on the CSM can be applied only in accordance with the decision of the so-called Constitutional Court of Kosovo.

Responding to the question whether the work on drafting the Statute of the CSM will commence, Mustafa said that the decision of the Constitutional Court is being analyzed in Pristina, that they would enable the working groups to start working on that, but that, as he claims, no deadlines have been agreed in this regard.

During the pause in the session which lasted three and a half hours, representatives of Belgrade stressed that it was crucial to immediately start working on the Statute of the CSM and everything required for the formation of the Community.

Prime Minister Vučić said that the Serbian side adheres to its principles and what was already agreed, instead of what was decided by the so-called Kosovo's Constitutional Court.

Vučić said that the talks are difficult and whatever agreement were reached would represent a step forward, as a sign that the process of establishing the CSM had been unblocked.

"It is of critical importance to start working on the Statute and everything required for the establishment of the Community of Serbian Municipalities" the Prime Minister told the Radio Television of Serbia.

According to him, the most important topic of the dialogue at this point in time is the CSM, but that the Belgrade delegation will also fight for the parliamentary elections to be organized throughout the Republic of Serbia, as provided by the Constitution.

"It seems very likely that the elections for the National Assembly of Serbia will be held on the entire territory of Serbia. It is not the outcome of much arrangement and no contract has been made, but it seems to me that this is a reasonable position which at this time no one reasonable would wish to contradict," said Vučić.

The Prime Minister stressed that this is good news, because we would thus be able to preserve the stability, and people would be able to express their political will in a calm and dignified manner.

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Đurić also noted that a great way forward has been made in Brussels for the work on drafting the Statute of the CSM to begin and to have "regular, robust and abundant" talks on that subject, after nearly six months of blockade.

He said it would be a major step towards the establishment of the CSM, which is of crucial importance for the Serbian side, as it means survival for the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija.

As one journalist noted that the constitutional court in Priština has put objections to the formation of the CSM, Đurić stressed that "Serbia does not recognize and will not recognize the decision of the so-called constitutional court in Priština, while the Agreement of 25 August presents the reliable ground for everything, and nothing else."

"We consider this decision to be an internal document which has nothing to do with this dialogue, and has no binding effect for the Serbian side," Đurić said.

Đurić said that in the course of the dialogue, the issue of the "politically motivated" verdict against the leader of "Civic Initiative SDP" Oliver Ivanović was initiated and added that the Serbian side demands for Ivanović to be immediately released and given a fair trial, because the present court judgment was reached without any valid evidence.

He said that the dialogue discussed the agreement on diplomas made in 2011, and sharply criticized previous negotiator on the Serbian side, the then member of the Democratic Party, Borislav Stefanović.

"This is very a bad piece of negotiating on the Serbian side," Đurić said and clarified that the University of Kosovska Mitrovica was omitted from that agreement.

Đurić said that the agreement on the freedom of movement also has serious flaws because it provides for a "very bad position for our license plates."

Đurić added that the Kosovo license plates, as a status determinant, cannot be imposed on the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.

According to him, the Serbian delegation is trying to correct all the deficiencies and bring them closer to the needs of the Serbs in Kosovo.

"The dialogue currently conducted in Brussels is very difficult, and the issue on the agenda are the attacks on the Serbian property in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija," Đurić said.

Đurić stated that it is clear that the elections will be held throughout Serbia.

When asked whether the Pristina side agreed to hold elections in Kosovo, he said that there is no doubt that they will be held throughout the country, including Kosovo and Metohija.