Brussels, 22 June 2023
Today I traveled from Rome to Brussels, from the Holy See in the Vatican to the Foreign Service in the European Commission, and we held bilateral meetings with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy and at the same time the Vice President of the European Commission Mr. Josep Borrell and his special emissary for the Balkans and dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Mr. Miroslav Lajcak.
There was no trilateral meeting as it usually happens, because the other side has refused such a thing. So, I have to face a situation in which four months ago I was promised that the Basic Agreement is not being signed since it will be signed together with the Implementation Annex. Then, three months ago, I was told that the Implementation Agreement will not be signed as an integral part, i.e. the annex in Ohrid, since we have an agreement even then.
Today it was confirmed that we have an agreement, but we did not have a meeting. This is not constructive behavior of the other party. I have come to meet, to get along, to hold talks, negotiations so that we can reach agreements and move forward.
Anyway, because I’m only one side, not both sides, it’s not all up to me.
At the beginning of this meeting, I presented a document to Mr. Borrell and Lajçak, related to the kidnapping of three Kosovo police officers in Leposaviq, on June 14. So, it has been more than a week that they are being held hostage, they are being held captive by Serbia in the prison of Kraleva and this documentation shows in detail and clearly how they were kidnapped in the interior of the territory of Kosovo and at the same time I asked Mr. Borrel and Lajcak to publicly condemn Serbia’s aggression.
After that we also discussed de-escalation. For my strong conviction, de-escalation should mean the removal of violent extremists, illegal and criminal groups, which would immediately be followed by the reduction of the presence of the Kosovo Police in the municipal buildings.
Meanwhile, as for the most durable solution, of course we understand that there is a need for early elections in the four municipalities in the north with a process that is preceded by the rule of law, by an open and fair campaign and by free elections and democratic.
I can’t say that the situation is safe because of the bilateral meetings now and we have a lasting peace, but from the mediator’s optimism I can say that there are signs that the days ahead are better than the ones we left behind. In any case, it remains to be seen and I am handicapped because there was no direct meeting.
So, I repeat, those who said yes to the agreement not to sign it and who seem to regret having said yes, are now refusing to even meet with me, while holding three Kosovo policemen hostage.
It is a very difficult situation for us, but we do the best we can. As you can still see in Brussels it is day, we were able to continue the talks. Although it is the longest day of the year, there has been time to have an intense dialogue until we reach an agreement. My readiness is not lacking, also the concrete proposals, but we have a kind of escape of the other side from the situation and from the possible solution.
I thank Mr. Borell and Mr. Lajçak for today’s commitment, for their goodwill, and we agreed that the immediate unconditional release of the three policemen and, on the other hand, de-escalation with the normalization of reports, have no alternative. The latter needs a complete, detailed and balanced sequencing of the Basic Agreement and the agreement of that additional agreement as an implementation annex that was made in Ohrid.
So, the first time on February 27, here in Brussels, I was told that we are accepting it, but the other side is not signing it because it will be done in Ohrid. When we came to Ohrid, we agreed on the Annex to implement neither one nor the other. Again it was not signed.
My impression is that we are in this situation, among other things, as a result of not signing this Basic Agreement and not insisting on the immediate, unconditional and full implementation of that agreement, because even earlier many agreements were signed, but not implemented, in a while now we have a situation in which non-signing is followed by non-meeting.
Last modified: June 23, 2023