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Serbia, Kosovo Under Pressure to Reach Deals (Balkan Insight)

The office of the EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini on June 19 said the new round of Kosovo-Serbia talks on Tuesday would focus on implementing agreements on energy, telecommunications and the establishment of the Association of Serbian Municipalities in Kosovo.

The two leaders will also discuss the barricade on the bridge in the divided northern Kosovo town of Mitrovica.

A source close to Serbia’s negotiating team told BIRN on June 22 that some agreements could be reached.

“It may be possible to reach some kind of an agreement regarding the bridge in Mitrovica although I doubt it could be opened for car traffic at this point,” the source said.

Agreements on the energy system in Kosovo and the Association of Serbian Municipalities would also be difficult.

“That Association is the priority for us, since it is crucial for the survival of the Kosovo Serbs. We cannot let it become an Association with no real authorities, as Kosovo would like it to be,” the Serbian source told BIRN.

On the other side, Kosovo MP Besnik Tahiri maintained that no agreement should be signed if it allows the Association executive powers "because this would limit the sovereignty of Kosovo and compromise the constitution,” Tahiri wrote on Twitter on June 22.

The dispute over the bridge in Mitrovica has run on for years. Kosovo wants it reopened to traffic as soon as possible while the Serbian side is more cautious.

Kosovo media reports say a possible deal could include moving the barricade, which Serbs call a "park".

“EU representatives in Kosovo have met with the representatives of the North and South Mitrovica and proposed moving the park off the bridge, northwards,” the Kosovo daily Koha Ditore reported.

Such an agreement would mean that the park would be moved off the bridge itself, but would still block the passage of vehicles.

Valon Murtezaj, an advisor to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa of Kosovo, said the outcome of the Mitrovica Bridge issue depends largely on the EU.

Both sides meanwhile are aware that the outcome of the talks will affect their EU membership aspirations.

The European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia, David McAllister, said in Belgrade on June 8, that the next round of dialogue in Brussels on June 23 would be crucial for both sides in terms of the EU integration process.

"Both Belgrade and Pristina should take additional steps toward the normalization of ties for to demonstrate commitment and credibility," McAllister said.

Serbia's Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, on June 19 that he was aware that the talks in Brussels would be difficult but added that the success of Serbia's European agenda depends on the continued dialogue with Kosovo.

Vucic said in Belgrade that the opening of the first chapters in Serbia's membership talks with the EU depends on the outcome of Tuesday's meeting, as does the whole investment and economic climate in the country, since political stability was the key condition for economic prosperity.