It’s been two years since the signing of the Agreement for the Normalization of Relations between Kosovo and Serbia. The accord was signed on April 19, 2013 in Brussels by the prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia, Hashim Thaci and Ivica Dacic, with the brokerage of the EU head of for foreign affairs, Catherine Ashton. The text contains 15 points.

For the implementation of several points, such as Kosovo’s country telephone code, integration of the energy system, billing of power supply in the north, discussions still continue.

European diplomats have said that the agreement in question will help Kosovo and Serbia in their path of Europe integration. Two years later, this Agreement continues to be considered historical by the government of Kosovo and the protagonists that signed it.

Two years after signing this document, deputy PM of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci says that in spite of the deadlocks, the undeniable success has brought long term benefits for Kosovo and the region and has become a world example of the solution of problems with dialogue.

“Two years ago, we signed the historical Brussels’ agreement through which we enabled the dissolution of Serb illegal parallel structures and Europeanization of the Balkan. In spite of the deadlocks, the undeniable success has brought long term benefits for Kosovo and the region and has become a world example of the solution of problems through dialogue. On this anniversary, I would like to remember Enver Zymberi, who gave his life to defend the sovereignty of Kosovo”, Thaci says.

Meanwhile, deputy Foreign minister of Kosovo, Petrit Selimi says that Belgrade is preventing the delivery of the main objectives of the accord.

“This accord should have brought a climate of good neighboring relations, but this climate is still not there. There are still deadlocks and Belgrade is reluctant to accept this reality and the content of this agreement”, Selimi declared.

According to him, radical and nationalist forces, especially in Serbia, want to destroy this accord, because according to him, this accord has de facto recognized the legitimacy of Kosovo throughout the entire territory of the country.

But, opposition parties in Pristina have different opinions on this document. They consider it as an opportunity being given to Belgrade to strengthen its influence on the internal developments of Kosovo.

Member of the steering committee of “Self Determination”, Zgjim Hyseni declares that this agreement must be abrogated.

“The April 19 accord, which is considered as the agreement for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, is in fact an agreement for the normalization of Serbia within Kosovo. It’s a document which makes the subjectivity of Kosovo abnormal. In this aspect, we believe that this agreement which foresees the formation of the association of Serb majority communes, must be abrogated and unite citizens against this agreement”, declared Hyseni.

Meanwhile, the head of AKK parliamentary group, Donika Kadaj-Bujupi, sees former PM Thaci as directly responsible for signing the agreement. According to her, Thaci could not use the talks to strengthen Kosovo and facilitate the process of EU integration.

“On the contrary, this agreement has increased Belgrade’s influence within Kosovo and has caused great damages, especially in the domain of justice. Meanwhile, in the north, citizens have not seen an improvement of life, but they’ve seen degradation, especially in the domain of security”, she says. Officials in Belgrade say that the Serb side has met all obligations, while Pristina is yet to meet six out of the 15 points of the agreement, where one of the first ones is the creation of the association of Serb communes.

The head of the office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, says that Serbia has met all the points, from point 7 to point 15, while he claims that the first 6 points have not been addressed, because Pristina has not delivered them yet.

The normalization of the relations between both countries has been imposed by the European Union as a prerequisite for their European integration process. /ibna/

http://www.balkaneu.com/brussels-accord-historical-damaging-kosovo/