The tenth round of talks between prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia, Hashim Thaçi and Ivica Dacic respectively, finally resulted in an agreement aimed at normalizing relations between the two countries.
The news that a deal was reached was announced by the facilitator of the dialogue, EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Catherine Ashton who heralded the end of negotiations and congratulating the prime ministers for their commitment in the process. “I want to congratulate them for their determination over these months and for the courage that they have. It is very important that now what we are seeing is a step away from the past and, for both of them, a step closer to Europe”, Ashton said in a statement to the media.
Prime ministers Thaçi and Dacic however came out with different interpretations of what they agreed to in Brussels, notes Koha Ditore. The paper also writes that Kosovo has managed to ensure that the police and the courts in the north, though consisting of local Serbs, will be part of the Kosovo unified legal system while Serbia has managed to take out of the agreement’s text the phrase that spoke about not blocking Kosovo’s membership in international organizations.
Calling the agreement historic, Thaçi said that it represents de jure Serbia’s recognition of Kosovo. “We have just signed the first historic agreement between the state of Kosovo and Serbia under the guarantees of Baroness Ashton. This agreement has been initialed by the prime ministers of the two countries under the guarantees of Baroness Ashton”, said Thaçi. He added that the agreement provides the basis for normalizing relations between the two countries and that it has not been easy. “However, we managed to narrow down our differences and move towards a reconciliation, understanding, and reach an agreement”, he said. PM Thaçi noted that he is aware that there will be people both in Kosovo and in Serbia that will oppose the deal but expressed assurances that this is the best possible solution for Kosovo, Serbia and the region.
Serbian PM Dacic on his part said that the agreement has incorporated Serbia’s requests and that several points of the proposal have been amended to reflect these demands. “The community will be based in north Mitrovica, it will have its property, bank account, assembly, president, deputy president and the council, just like a type of a government. It will have full supervision and executive authority when it comes to education, health, culture and spatial planning,” said Dacic.
