New EU foreign policy chief stresses importance of Serbia-Kosovo normalization

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - The EU’s new foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the path to EU membership for Serbia and Kosovo “is through normalization of relations based on the Ohrid Agreement.”

The remarks came after Kallas met separately with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti on Tuesday in Brussels.

Vucic said on social media that he talked about the necessity of dialogue with Pristina but sanctions against Russia were the main focus of the meeting.

"If we impose sanctions on Russia and accept Kosovo's independence, all doors could be opened. But we are not interested. We are happy with our current stance. I gave answers in line with Serbia's interests," he said.

Kurti told reporters that he and Kallas discussed European integration and relations with Serbia.

"Kallas is at the right time and in the right place," said Kurting adding that he informed her about a Nov. 29 bomb attack on the Iberian Lepenci water channel.

Serbia and Kosovo reached an agreement on Feb. 27, 2023, to sign a proposal to normalize ties after a meeting in Brussels, known as the Ohrid Agreement.

It came after 12 hours of talks between Vucic, Kurti and EU officials.​​​​​​​

The parties later agreed on how to implement the deal in the last round of talks on March 18 in North Macedonia.

The 11-point agreement demands that the sides maintain good neighborly relations and recognize each other’s documents such as passports and license plates.

The agreement that was agreed upon could not be put on paper because Vucic refused to sign.

Recent tensions in northern Kosovo have caused the process to stall.

The EU-led Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue that was launched in 2011 aims to find an agreeable solution for disputes in the framework of a legally binding agreement.

The EU requires Kosovo and Serbia to reach a final agreement and resolve disputes to progress in their integration into the bloc.

Most UN member states, including the US, UK, France, Germany and Türkiye recognized Kosovo as a separate country after it declared independence from Serbia 15 years ago. Serbia, however, continues to regard it as its territory.

Kallas will assume responsibility for mediating the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia during her five-year term.​​​​​​​