Brussels, 08 June 2013
The delegation of the Republic of Kosovo, led by Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri, and including directors and experts in the field of justice, security and local government, participated in a second meeting on the Implementation of the Agreement on Normalizing relations between the Republic of Kosovo and of Serbia, mediated by the European Union, from June 5 to 7, 2013, in Brussels.
On the agenda of the talks were issues relating to justice and security and the establishment of an association of Serb majority municipalities and the discussion focused on building a detailed plan, regarding the mandatory obligations of each party and deadlines, which are obligations deriving from the Agreement on normalization and the Implementation Plan.
After the meeting ended, Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri stated that, “In these three day long meetings on the agreement Implementation Plan all parties included in the process were very engaged and I think there was new progress made toward finalizing this process, but the remaining differences must be discussed in future phases, and she added that there are issues which were not discussed this time, but which were noted and will be on the agenda of the next meeting. It is important to emphasize that with regard to parallel structures in security and justice, deadlines were discussed when these must be definitively dismantled and we agreed that by September 1, 2013 illegal Serbian structures in justice, including all parallel courts, must be fully closed down, and by September 30, all parallel police structures must be dismantled. The process of closing down the parallel structures will start in the second part of June, when it is anticipated that an agreement on the detailed plan for the implementation of the agreement will be reached, between the two states with the guarantee of the EU.” In this context, she stated that the Kosovar party had asked that Serbia take a decision as soon as possible to stop the financing of parallel structures installed illegally in Kosova.
Ms. Tahiri said that a dynamic plan was discussed, which foresees the integration of individuals from the Serb community who are interested in integrating into the Kosovo state police and for this purpose the Kosovo party explained the procedures and criteria for recruitment, according to the legislation and Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. The issue of integration of the courts remains to be discussed in the next meeting, while the Kosovo delegation expressed the readiness of the Kosovo Government to integrate Serb individuals in accordance with the criteria set out by the laws of Kosovo and taking as their basis, the capacity of the institutions of the state of Kosovo for integration.
In discussions on implementing the part relating to the establishment of municipalities with a Serb majority in the four municipalities, agreement was reached to establish a Management Team which will help to establish this Association, which is anticipated to become operational after local elections are held in the entire country, organized by the competent institutions of the state of Kosovo, and facilitated by the OSCE, for Serb majority municipalities in the north of the country.
Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri also said that it was possible to achieve more results, but obstructions were created by the Serb party, which was not serious and is chronically unable to abandon the mentality of the past.
During her stay in Brussels, Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri met Fernando Gentilini, Director for Europe and the region, in the EU External Action Service, with whom she discussed the importance of implementing in practice the Agreement on normalization, according to the deadlines set out in the Implementation Plan on the normalization agreement. She expressed the commitment of the Kosovo Government and that of all state institutions to fulfill their implementation obligations, saying that Kosovo is a state that is committed to good neighborliness and the consolidation of peace and stability in the region, and rightly expects the EU’s support for a Stabilization and Association Agreement for Kosovo, at the European Council Summit at the end of June. She thanked the European Union and personally Baroness Ashton for her commitment to ensuring that this peace process ends successfully.
The meetings continue next week, when it is expected that talks on reaching an agreement on telecommunications and energy will be continued.
The delegation of the Republic of Kosovo, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri included the following: Dren Zeka, chief political advisor, Arjeta Rexhaj, political advisor. The working group on the issue of justice: Ismet Kabashi (chair of the working group), Enver Peci, Fejzullah Hasani, Sali Mekaj, Donikë Qerimi, Albert Avdiu and Ehat Miftaraj. The working group on security: Shpend Maxhuni (chair of the working group), Fisnik Rexhepi, Bardhyl Jashari. The working group on the Association: Besnik Osmani (chair of the working group), Ruzhdi Halili and Qemajl Marmullakaj.
Last modified: July 31, 2022