Another round of Belgrade-Pristina talks in Brussels is over: Not even a trace of progress

Photo: Tanjug/Presidency of Serbia

A new round of technical talks between Belgrade and Pristina ended yesterday, but without concrete progress or indications as to when the Kosovo deadlock could be resolved. This time as well, as Blic writes, the stumbling block for the continuation of the talks was the issue of forming the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO).

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Although there was no agreement, EU special mediator for the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajcak, said it was time to make "real progress."

The technical negotiations were held yesterday in Brussels, lasted for several hours, but this time, the negotiators of Belgrade and Pristina, Petar Petkovic and Besnik Beslimi, did not meet face to face. Instead, like the previous time, they only had bilateral meetings with Lajcak without reaching any agreement, or sitting at the same table.

According to RFE, Lajcak met separately with delegations on several occasions in an effort to organize a so-called trilateral meeting, but these efforts were unsuccessful because of the hardline positions of the parties.

After everything had happened, Lajcak was the only one who was optimistic yesterday, and said that it was "time for progress."

"Today, I hosted the two chief negotiators and their delegations for separate meetings on outstanding issues and the way forward in the dialogue. I also briefed them on Monday's FAC (meeting of EU foreign ministers where the Western Balkans was discussed), and reiterated the expectations of member states. It's high time for real progress," Lajcak said.

Today, I hosted the two Chief negotiators and their delegations for separate meetings on outstanding issues and the way forward in the Dialogue. I also briefed them on Monday’s FAC and reiterated the expectations of Member States. It’s high time for real progress. pic.twitter.com/3fgcB6pN8Y— Miroslav Lajčák (@MiroslavLajcak) November 16, 2021

Unlike him, Belgrade representatives were less optimistic. Petkovic accused Pristina of obstructing the resumption of talks.

"Pristina is the one who refuses to talk about the formation of the ZSO, although our side very directly insisted on the formation of the ZSO and presented concrete steps for the formation of that community," said Petar Petokovic, the negotiator and the director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija.

He pointed out that precisely the ZSO was the topic in Brussels, as he recalled that EU Special Envoy for the Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina Miroslav Lajcak announced this in a statement dated September 30.

Bislimi did not make his own statement yesterday, but it could be heard from Albin Kurti that an agreement depends on, as he said, "Serbia's readiness to change its approach and itself."

Petkovic and Bislimi last met at the end of September, and the reason for the emergency meeting was the crisis that arose after the government of Albin Kurti decided to introduce reciprocity for the registration plates of vehicles entering the southern province from central Serbia.

It was then agreed that a commission would be formed to deal with the issue, and be given a six-month mandate to find a solution and disclose it to negotiators participating in the talks at the highest level, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti. The first meeting was held on October 21, and a solution is expected in April next year.

(Telegraf.rs)