Lajčák to CoRD magazine: Time to end Belgrade – Pristina process
<http://rs.n1info.com/journalist806/CoRD-magazine> Author: CoRD magazine <http://rs.n1info.com/journalist806/CoRD-magazine> Share: <http://rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a656010/Lajc%C3%A1k-to-CoRD-magazine-Time-to-end-Belgrade-Pristina-process.html> Link je kopiran Izvor: AFP/Kenzo Tribouillard In an interview with the October issue of the CoRD magazine, Miroslav Lajčák, the European Union envoy for the Belgrade – Pristina negotiations, said that there "is absolutely no rivalry between the U.S. and the EU regarding the dialogue," but added the EU wasn't familiar with the documents signed by Aleksandar Vucic and Avdullah Hoti in Washington on September 4. "The Washington meeting covers previous dialogue agreements and topics currently under discussion in Brussels, already existing EU-financed infrastructure projects and the positions of the U.S. government…We welcome it if the commitments made at the White House mean that the U.S. will contribute financially to existing projects," Lajčák said. Nevertheless, Lajčák said the Europeans consider the Americans as being their leading partner in the Western Balkans. "The dialogue on the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Priština is by no means easy because if it was, then it would already have been completed," he said, adding he believed "a comprehensive agreement can be reached in months rather than years". "The Association/ Community of Serb Municipalities has not yet been established, and that is regrettable. We expect Priština to propose a way forward to implement this agreement," he added. "For that to happen," he says, "it is necessary for both sides to show generosity and seek compromises so that ultimately everyone wins a little bit for the benefit of their people". Speaking about the last high-level meeting with Vucic and Hoti in Brussels, on September 7, he said that "it was a productive meeting. We managed to achieve full progress in parts of the comprehensive normalisation agreement that were under discussion since the last high-level meeting in July – missing and displaced persons and economic cooperation." Lajčák added that "it allowed us to now shift the focus of our negotiations to arrangements for the non-majority community – Association/Community – and the settlement of mutual financial claims and property, as part of the comprehensive agreement. Both topics are very complex and sensitive to both parties." "The Association/ Community of Serb Municipalities has not yet been established, and that is regrettable. We expect Priština to propose a way forward to implement this agreement," he added. "But there is another important dimension to this process that is at times forgotten: I was mandated by the EU Member States to facilitate discussions on a comprehensive deal that addresses all outstanding issues between Belgrade and Priština – and not a series of technical agreements. Both parties agreed to this process, and I expect them to engage constructively. So, as you can see, there is more work to be done than just implementing past agreements, even if this remains an important part of our efforts," Lajčak told CoRD magazine. For the whole interview, click here. <https://cordmagazine.com/interview/miroslav-lajcak-eu-special-representative-for-the-belgrade-pristina-dialogue-time-to-bring-the-process-to-an-end/> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SERBIAN NEWS NETWORK" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/senet/020201d6989c%24b1374d80%2413a5e880%24%40gmail.com.
