The leaders of Kosovo and Serbia agreed on “several points” in the plan to normalize their mutual relations. Led by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, they negotiated for twelve hours in North Macedonia.
The head of foreign affairs had previously met with both Service Head Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti before sitting at the tripartite table. “Despite the disagreements, it was a good meeting,” Borrell said.
Borrell, at the press conference held after the negotiations, said that Vucic and Kurti had agreed on how this normalization should take place. Kosovo is said to have promised some form of autonomy to ethnic Serbs in Kosovo.
years of conflict
Serbia and Kosovo have been at odds for decades. This led to a guerrilla war in 1998 and 1999 that the Albanian majority in Kosovo wanted to fight to secede from Serbia. In 2008 Albanians declared independence in Kosovo, but Serbia continues to consider it its own province. The Netherlands, among others, recognizes Kosovo as a state.
There have been countless conflicts since then, including riots, barricades, border closures and threats of war.
Both countries hope to become EU members one day, but first they need to rededicate themselves to each other. Last month, the leaders agreed on an 11-point plan to remove wrinkles. In fact, Vucic and Kurti now agree that further discussion is needed.
“Today’s goal was to come to an agreement on how the 11-point plan should be implemented,” Borrell says. He explained the practical steps to be taken, what, by whom and how it should be done.
impress russia
Resolution of the conflict between the two countries has gained importance since the recent outbreak of war in Ukraine. There are fears that Russia is trying to cause instability between the two Balkan countries. Serbia has traditionally maintained good relations with Russia.
“It is clear that both sides will benefit significantly from this agreement, because the dialogue is not just about Kosovo and Serbia. “This is about stability, security and prosperity for the entire region,” Borrell said.
Source: NOS
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
