Macron: We are worried by the unilateral movements of Kosovo

2024-08-29 22:22:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, said on Thursday during a visit to Belgrade that the "one-sided" and "disturbing" movements of Kosovo do not give a good signal and that France is committed to establishing the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority in Kosovo.

Macron began a two-day visit to Belgrade on Thursday, where Serbia's Defense Ministry signed an agreement with France to purchase 12 new Rafale fighter jets.

Asked about the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, Macron said that this issue "will not be resolved without compromise from both sides and, accordingly, if there is no political courage to reach a solution."

"Together with our European partners, we have said how concerned we are about Kosovo's recent unilateral steps that do not send a good signal," Macron said, likely referring to the Kosovo Government's decisions in recent months to the closure of several branches of the Post of Serbia in the north of the country and its intentions to open the main bridge over the Iber River in Mitrovica. He emphasized that France wants Kosovo to establish the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority.

"Be sure that France will continue to follow with particular attention the conditions in which the Serbian community lives in Kosovo and, in this context, we are particularly committed to the establishment of the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority," he said.

Kosovo and Serbia have reached an agreement in the past for its establishment, drafts and proposals have been drawn up by different parties, but the Association has never been formed.

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has said some time ago that Kosovo is not hesitating to send a Western draft for review to the Constitutional Court, but that it is against the unilateral implementation of the agreement. The agreement requires respect for the territorial integrity of both countries, and that Serbia does not oppose the process of Kosovo's membership in international organizations.

Kosovo and Serbia have also reached agreement on the Agreement towards the normalization of relations in the first months of 2023, but no steps have been taken towards its implementation.

Osmani believes that Serbia has withdrawn from the agreement for the normalization of relations with Kosovo, and considers that if her country should form the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority, international allies should provide security guarantees.

"The implementation of the agreement without security guarantees, without membership in international organizations, has no meaning", said Osmani for Radio Free Europe, mentioning the need for Kosovo's membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Council of Europe, as well as the activation of the recognition campaign, among others.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said on August 21, after a meeting with Senator Chris Murphy in the USA, that Kosovo is committed to the implementation of the agreement, but to be implemented, it must also be accepted by Serbia.

In December of last year, the former Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabic, sent a letter to European officials, in which she confirmed that Serbia has red lines when it comes to the implementation of the Normalization Agreement.

The Serbian President, Aleksandar Vu?i?, has stated several times that Serbia will neither recognize the citizenship of Kosovo, nor will it allow its membership in the United Nations Organization./ Rel