The director of the Forum for Ethnic Relations Dušan Janjić today said that talks between prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo, Aleksandar Vucic and Isa Mustafa, were successful and that compromise was reached with regard to the Association/Community of Serb municipalities (A/CSM) in Kosovo and Metohija.
Janjić said that the meeting was successful and that issue of vehicle insurance, which has bothered people and entrepreneurs, has been removed from the agenda. “The Agreement on Freedom of Movement has been completed now, what means less expense, less crowds and easier traveling to Serbia from Kosovo and Metohija,” said Janjić in the morning program of the TV Pink.
Janjić went on to say that when it comes to issues of energy and telecommunication the EU doesn’t’ want to open the issue of property ownership. “It would be a success if any shift is made in this area and if position becomes clearer with regard to opening of property ownership over public companies and privatization,” claims Janjić.
The Brussels Agreement is both, clear and unclear, since it stipulates that the A/CSM, that is, its statute, has to be in line with Kosovo laws, said Janjić. He stressed that Serbia, through the Serbian List, has encouraged expectations of Serbs that A/CSM will be an entity, the Republic of Srpska within Kosovo. Janjić assessed that a compromise has been reached and voiced expectation that Kosovo will give in with regard to the statute.
When asked about the opening of negotiation chapters with the EU Janjić explained that there are certain conditions for settling issues of energy, telecommunication and the Park of Peace. “Following the harmonization of the second agreement on principles of normalization, it will be clear what would be the actual content of the chapter 35,” Janjić said.
Signing of two or three agreements is expected in the course of next week, whereas a review of what has been fulfilled would take place in September and second intergovernmental conference would follow in November with the opening of chapter 35, said Janjić.
Political analyst Dragomir Anđelković said in the same TV show that Belgrade has benefited from talks in Brussels since it broke an illusion that Serbia would everything, thus he expects that compromise will be much closer to Belgrade’s position.
“Europe is indirectly hampering us, since they are not placing sufficient pressure on Pristina, even though the power of Europe is limited. Unless the US is not involved in the process, at least in an invisible way, Pristina won’t give in,” claims Anđelković. He assessed that the US have started to exert pressure on Pristina with regard to reaching a compromise.
Anđelković argues that the A/CSM will be shaped as an entity, new Republic of Srpska with fewer jurisdictions. “Non-readiness to scarify Serbs in Kosovo for the sake of Europe will yield certain result in the following weeks,” concluded Anđelković.
