Delegations of Kosovo and Serbia, led by prime ministers of the two countries, failed to reach agree on implementation of the agreement on the justice system in the north of Kosovo.
On their 21st meeting as part of the EU-facilitated dialogue, Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, and his counterpart from Serbia, Ivica Dacic, said progress has been reached but differences in stances remain.
“We discussed the possibilities of implementing justice issues in the north. There is progress but no agreement yet. We also talked about further functionalisation of municipalities in the north, election of assemblies and presidents and mayoral elections in northern Mitrovica. According to April 19 agreement, everything will be within the Constitution and laws of Kosovo. We agreed for the next meeting to take place on 12 February”, said Kosovo PM Thaçi to the reporters in Brussels after the meeting.
EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Catherine Ashton, in a written statement said that she was “very pleased to witness the commitment of the two prime ministers and the deputy prime minister Vucic as well as members of their delegations to continue work. I look forward to seeing them again on 12 February, when we will meet to continue the process”.
Prime Minister of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, said disagreements concern courts and police in the north.
“We could not agree on the courts. There are still significant differences in the positions and in principle we could not agree to accept certain issues which would affect original stances of April’s agreement for the court to reflect ethnic structure of the population”, said Dacic adding that the Kosovo side wants the court to extend to seven municipalities of Mitrovica region instead of four with Serb majority in the north.
Days ago, the EU High Representative, Baroness Catherine Ashton, who mediated the discussions between the two Prime Ministers, stated that today’s dialogue, which is being held as part of the agreement between the two countries, will treat the issue of constitution of the municipalities in the north.
“The meeting will be held after the successful inauguration of the three from total four municipalities in the north. Now the parties have the possibility to continue with their work in this respect, and on other issues related to the implementation of 19 April Agreement,” said a press release issued by the Office of Ms. Ashton.
Inauguration took place in municipalities of Leposavic, Zveçan and Zubin Potok. Northern Mitrovica on the other hand, has to go for another round of elections of its mayor, on 23 February, since the voted candidate, Krstimir Pantic, refused to pledge due to the state symbols of Kosovo on the inaugurating documents, “even though they were covered with stickers.”
Monday’s round of discussions preceded the one held on 13 December of the last year, which ended without an agreement on the judicial issue for the north.
Official Pristina requested “a unique system of functioning of the justice institutions in the north of the country,” while Belgrade authorities insisted for “the solution to be practical and to have for basis peculiarities of the four municipalities in the north.”
