EU wants Kurti-Vucic meeting in Bratislava

2023-05-30 12:21:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The EU's special envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, is trying to organize an ad hoc meeting between the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia, Radio Free Europe learns.

The meeting between the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, is trying to be organized in Bratislava, Slovakia.

According to diplomatic sources, "this is an idea and an effort" and that "there is still no confirmation from the parties as to whether they are ready for such a meeting".

The Slovak capital has been mentioned as a possible place where the two leaders of the dialogue could meet, since both have been invited to participate in the global security conference, Globsec, which is taking place in Slovakia.

Prime Minister Kurti had announced that he would participate in a panel on Tuesday afternoon with the topic: "Melted - Western Balkans and the road to the EU".

However, the Government of Kosovo told Radio Free Europe that Kurt's participation in this conference in Slovakia may be cancelled.

"It was planned for Kurti to go. But, due to the developments in the country, the participation has been postponed. It is not yet definitive whether he will participate or not", said the Government of Kosovo.

Meanwhile, the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vu?i?, is expected to participate in a panel on Wednesday, with the theme: "Open road - Western Balkans back to work". The prime minister of Albania, Edi Rama, and the prime minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacevski, will also be present at this panel.

The presence of Kurti and Vucic, as well as Lajcak in this conference, was seen as an opportunity to organize a joint meeting between them.

For such a meeting, according to diplomatic sources, Lajcak also has the support of some of the most important Western countries.

Such a meeting is also seen as an attempt to reduce tensions in the north of Kosovo, an area where the local Serbs are protesting against the new Albanian leaders and are demanding the withdrawal of special units of the Kosovo Police from the north.

On May 29, Serbian protesters in Zveçan clashed with KFOR mission troops. This mission said that three soldiers were wounded by firearms, while 27 others suffered various injuries.

After Monday's clashes, the European Union and NATO have asked Kosovo and Serbia to commit to the "immediate reduction" of tensions./ Rel