Kosovo's Constitutional Court has suspended an agreement with Serbia negotiated with the support of the EU. The move marks a significant new deterioration in the relations between the two countries.

http://www.dw.com/en/chill-returns-to-kosovo-and-serbia/a-18850857

Several news sites carry a press release issued by the Kosovo Government today saying that it “remains committed to the dialogue in Brussels for the normalization of relations between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia and the implementation of agreements reached in this process”. “The temporary measure by the Constitutional Court is a normal procedure and it suspends the implementation of the Agreement on the General Principles / Key Elements of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities, awaiting a verdict by the Constitutional Court.

The European Union is calling on Pristina and Belgrade to implement the duties that are included in the agreement for the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. One day after the Constitutional Court of Kosovo suspended the agreement until a decision on its constitutional compliance is made, officials in Brussels say that the agreement reached on August 25 between Kosovo and Serbia prime ministers must be implemented.

The President of the Kosovo Assembly, Kadri Veseli, met today with the European Parliament Vice President and Rapporteur for Kosovo, Ulrike Lunacek, to discuss current developments in Kosovo and the region, dialogue and Kosovo’s challenges in the path toward European integration. Veseli said: “We are at a point where dialogue and understanding between the government and the opposition is key for moving forward with our European integration agenda.

Head of the European Office in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, considers that the decision of the UNESCO member states not to vote in favor of Kosovo’s membership at this organization should not stop the determination of Kosovo’s institutions toward progress. “There was a major support for Kosovo in UNESCO. Many countries supported Kosovo’ membership at this organization. Majority of the required numbers was not reached however Kosovo should continue to be determined on its way,” Zbogar said.

UNESCO did not approve at today’s General Conference voting Kosovo’s membership in the organization. Kosovo’s application received 92 out of the required 95 votes while 50 countries opposed the motion. Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci wrote on his Facebook account that despite the vote result, the vast majority of countries did vote in favour of Kosovo’s membership. “Kosovo’s path is unstoppable and we will apply and gain membership in other organisations as well, including UNESCO,” said Thaci.

Belgrade has launched a major diplomatic offensive to inform members of the EU about everything that was so far discussed and negotiated with Pristina, and we expect that it will be respected and in the final version of the draft negotiating framework for Chapter 35, says Marko Djuric, the Director of the Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija.

The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, hosted today the President of Austria, Heinz Fischer, with the highest military honors by the Kosovo Security Force.

The European Union, has requested on Tuesday from Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, to accelerate endorsement of the law for cadaster and to make the preparations for establishment of the Technical Agency which would have for its task comparison and verification of the cadastre documents which will be returned from Serbia to the Kosovo database.

Leaders of the opposition parties ended their meeting with the President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, where they reiterated their positions that they would not set back or sit around the same table with the government, if the latter does not  withdraw signatures from the agreements for the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities and demarcation of the border with Montenegro.