In this edition of The Interview, Fair Observer talks to EU Special Representative in Kosovo Samuel Zbogar.

On February 17, 2008, Kosovo declared independence. The International Court of Justice subsequently stated that the declaration did not violate international law.

Serbian list announced tonight that the messages from Pristina, that speak of reluctance to launch serious negotiations on the establishment of the Association/Community of Serbian Municipalities (ZSO), speak that the Kosovo government does not understand the obligations undertaken in the Brussels Treaty. Serbian List, in the press release, further states that the unwillingness of the Kosovo Government to seriously negotiate about the ZSO indicates the contempt of the coalition agreement that the ruling parties in Kosovo had with the Serbian List. The political adviser to Kosovo Prime Minist

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and Serbia Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic are expected to meet in the first half of June, the paper reports. Although, Mustafa and Vucic were supposed to meet in May, according to the EU officials, the meeting in current circumstances would make no sense, because no moves were made in regards to the implementation of the agreements reached so far.  Unnamed EU officials said that they were disappointed with the non-implementation of the agreement on telecom and international telephony code for Kosovo.

Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic told German daily Die Welt that Belgrade has made progress in the dialogue with Pristina and that it has carried out painful reforms, adding he hopes that chapters in Serbia's EU accession talks will be opened soon. "Serbia worked very hard on that. We have advanced in the dialogue with Pristina; we have carried out painful reforms and initiated austerity measures.

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric said that in Brussels could be informally heard the request to include issue of the bridge over the Ibar/Iber River, as one of the future topics in the talks. On the bridge the Serbs set so-called ‘Peace Park’ almost a year ago, after removal of the barricades. For the Serbs, that is the "Peace Park", while Albanians see it as a barricade and call it a "Disgrace Park", requesting its removal.  “There are attempts to open talks on other topics, like the issue of energy, which has not been completed.

Serbia has increased its demands regarding telecom and energy in Kosovo which are still being discussed in Brussels between the Pristina and Belgrade delegations. Tirana-based Top Channel reported that Serbia has shifted from its position and now demands a Serbian state company be granted right to distribute energy in the north of Kosovo. Serbia is said to demand the same thing about telecom.

Political analysts Aleksandra Joksimovic and Dragan Djukanovic agreed that the talks that Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic had in Brussels and Berlin are a step forward in the European integration of our country. Joksimovic said that it is a move in the right direction, pointing out that it was very encouraging that the Prime Minister had a good response from all the representatives of the EU Member States in Brussels. His visit to Berlin was positive from the other side, because Berlin is the centre of bringing decisions in this process, she said.

Technical dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on issues of telecommunications, vehicle insurance and integrated management of crossings will continue today in Brussels.

We have clearly sent a message that we are for further progress in the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, and without the establishment of the Association/Community of Serbian municipalities (ZSO) progress is not possible, said Marko Djuric, Director of the Office of the Government of Serbia for Kosovo and Metohija. "Further steps go toward creating a community of Serbian municipalities (ZSO), in order to achieve something new and quality it is necessary to establish the Community of Serbian municipalities, further progress is not possible without it," he told RTV

Kosovo’s minister without portfolio and chief negotiator, Edita Tahiri, travelled to Brussels today to resume dialogue with the Serbian side. The two delegations are expected to address the issue of telecommunication, integrated border management, medical products and vehicle insurance. The meetings between the delegations under the EU facilitation will take place from 19 to 21 May.