Serbia, Kosovo agree on implementation of EU-backed agreement to normalize ties

BELGRADE, Serbia

The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo have agreed on how to implement an EU-backed deal to normalize ties, the bloc's foreign policy chief said on Saturday.

The agreement came after 12 hours of talks between Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and EU officials in Ohrid, North Macedonia.

"Kosovo and Serbia have agreed on the Implementation Annex of the Agreement on the path to normalization of relations. The parties have fully committed to honoring all articles of the agreement and implementing their respective obligations expediently and in good faith," Josep Borrell told reporters.

Vucic said after the meeting that some sort of agreement was reached. "Certainly this will not be all. These few points that we have agreed on will become part of the negotiation framework for both sides."

But Kurti said Vucic did not sign the implementation deal on Saturday. "Now it is up to the European Union to find a mechanism to make this agreement legally and internationally binding," he added.

Launched in 2011, the EU-led Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue aims to find a mutually 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.

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