Citizens gathered in Pristina to protest against the demand for the Association of Serb Municipalities on the day the US Embassy called a closed-door meeting to discuss its formation, even against the government’s will.
The Association was agreed upon in 2013 in a bid to normalise relations between Kosovo and Serbia, but following a Constitutional Court ruling, the current government has refused to implement it, stating it is unconstitutional.
Protestors gathered outside the city’s National Theatre and called on the government to protect their sovereignty and not accept external pressure.
After the meeting, US Ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier said the US would continue to push forward with implementing all dialogue requirements, specifically mentioning the association.
“Today, during the day, we held a hearing for the Association of Municipalities with a Serbian majority. We are grateful to the stakeholders who were present for sharing their views and expertise. We continue to advocate for implementing all dialogue commitments”, he said.
He called on Pristina to “follow through on its obligations”, calling the formation of the association “critical, important and urgent.”
The association would see the creation of a structure for the country’s ethnic Serbs, which would operate independently from Kosovo institutions. It was pledged in 2013 to give more autonomy to Serbs, but some parts of the agreement were found to violate the constitution and should be changed.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the association would divide the country on ethnic lines, partitioning it and creating a mini-state in Kosovo, similar to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska.
Earlier this week, he said he is happy to discuss improving minority rights, but an association is unnecessary.
“I am ready for talks on the rights of minorities, non-majority communities; I am ready for that. But you must understand that it is essential that those who want more rights than Ahtisaari’s plan gives them bear the burden of arguing why they need more,” he said.
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Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said he does not see the need to create an Association of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo, as per the wishes of Belgrade and international stakeholders, but stressed willingness to discuss the rights of the …
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Hovnier said the US would “not support any arrangement that violates Kosovo’s constitution… or that will threaten Kosovo’s sovereignty, independence, multiethnic character or its democratic institutions.”
“We strictly oppose the creation of any entity resembling Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he added.
However, US Envoy to the region, Gabriel Escobar, caused a stir when he said the association would be formed with our without Kurti’s consent.
“We will start talks at the national level about what this obligation means for the citizens of Kosovo…Kurti does not need to agree, Kosovo has agreed…One person, one party, cannot avoid it, this is an existing liability. Kosovo has already agreed, the question is how it will be implemented,” he said.
Divergence of priorities clear after Kosovo-internationals meetings
After a meeting with key US and EU stakeholders, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the topics of non-recognisers and membership to international institutions were the most crucial, while the US envoy to the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue said that if Kurti …
Kosovo and Serbia have been engaged in internationally backed dialogue to normalise relations for over a decade however little progress has been made.
Out of the many agreements signed, lots remains unimplemented on both sides and the topic of recognition of Kosovo’s sovereignty, the core demand from Pristina, has never been on the table.
(Alice Taylor | Exit.al)
Source: euractiv.com
