Guerot: The European Draft of the CSM Statute should be sent to the Constitutional Court; Unilateral closure of parallel institutions contradicts agreements

The French Ambassador to Kosovo, Olivier Guerot, spoke in an interview with Kosovo Online about the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, the CSM, the situation in the four municipalities in northern Kosovo, local elections, the main bridge on the Ibar, and the role of France.

When asked how he would assess the current relations between France and Kosovo, Guerot emphasized that nothing has changed in the "firm and resolute support of Paris for Kosovo's independence and sovereignty."

"France’s return to KFOR demonstrates our commitment to the stability of the region, especially Kosovo. We maintain regular high-level contacts with President Osmani and Prime Minister Kurti, who recently visited Paris at a bilateral economic forum and had a meeting with Mr. Benjamin Haddad, Deputy Minister for Europe. France has just opened a Cultural Institute in Pristina, which will operate not only in Pristina but across the entire territory of Kosovo with all relevant stakeholders. The AFD (French Development Agency) is working with the government to support some key projects for the country's development and its European integration; I hope this will materialize soon. Relations between France and the Republic of Kosovo are good and growing, despite the differences we have concerning the EU-mediated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia," said Guerot.

Kosovo recently allowed the import of Serbian goods, but only through Merdare, which has resulted in very few trucks passing through. What needs to be done to keep all crossings open?

"We welcome the decision of the Kosovo government to allow the import of Serbian goods through the Merdare border crossing. The situation at the border is not entirely satisfactory due to heightened security checks causing long waiting times at the border. More crossings need to be opened, and all obstacles, including non-tariff barriers, should be removed or mitigated in line with Kosovo's CEFTA commitments. The creation of an integrated regional market is the best way to prepare the region's economies for European integration."

You have repeatedly stated that you are against unilateral actions targeting the Serbian community, yet the Kosovo government continues with such actions. What can the international community do to help the Serbian community in Kosovo?

"On every occasion, we reiterate our concern about the unilateral actions of the Kosovo government, encouraging positive steps that would help advance the path to normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia and enable Kosovo to progress on its path to European integration. We particularly emphasize the importance of Kosovo sending the European draft statute of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities to the Constitutional Court for review. Along with our Quint and EU colleagues, we are particularly cautious about any potential new unilateral moves that could have serious impacts on the Serbian population, especially in the areas of healthcare and education."

It seems the dialogue is at a standstill. What do Kosovo and Serbia need to do to restart the dialogue?

"In a very uncertain international context, characterized by the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine and deeply threatened stability in the Middle East, the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia remains a top priority and a matter of European security. France firmly supports EU mediation efforts. The Brussels Agreement and the Ohrid Annex must be implemented as soon as possible by both sides. These agreements are legally binding, and their implementation is included in Chapter 35 of Serbia’s accession negotiations as well as in the implementation of Kosovo's Stabilization and Community Agreement. Their implementation will be crucial for the European integration of both Serbia and Kosovo."

Regarding Kosovo

"The French President has reminded the Kosovo government several times that they are expected to send the EU-drafted statute of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities to the Constitutional Court for review. According to the Brussels Agreements of 2013 and 2015, the creation of the Community aimed to integrate Serbian parallel structures into Kosovo's legal framework. Unfortunately, it has still not been established, and the unilateral closure of parallel structures contradicts these agreements."

Regarding Serbia

"During meetings with President Vucic, the French President has repeatedly reminded him that the perpetrators of the attack in Banjska, including Milan Radoicic, must be brought to justice. Serbia must also fulfill its obligations within the dialogue framework."

What is your position on the opening of the main bridge on the Ibar River?

The bridge is open for pedestrians. Every day, people cross the bridge in both directions. The question is whether it is necessary, useful, or supported by the population to open it for vehicular traffic. To prevent security risks, any decision about opening the Ibar bridge to cars should be discussed within the framework of the EU-mediated dialogue, as has been the case so far, taking into account the security assessments of EULEX and KFOR.

Is it necessary for calming the situation in northern Kosovo that Serbs return to institutions as soon as possible, including the Kosovo Police in the north? How do you think this can best be achieved?

The collective decision to resign from all institutions in the north has proven harmful, not only for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia but also for the Serbian population itself. Similarly, the boycott of the 2023 and 2024 elections has led to further stagnation, which we deeply regret. However, it is a positive step that Serbia has called for the participation of Kosovo Serbs in elections and their reintegration into all Kosovo institutions they left in 2022.

We now expect Kosovo to facilitate their reintegration in line with the dialogue agreements and its own legal framework. We particularly encourage the government of Kosovo to continue recruiting Serbian cadets into the police, ensuring they are not discouraged. We urge all Serbian citizens of Kosovo to apply for posted job openings or return to institutions if they can under the current regulatory framework. We also encourage the Kosovo government to do everything in its power to ensure a proportional composition of the public administration, which is currently not the case. We look forward to new local elections as soon as possible, so that even Serbian citizens of Kosovo in the four northern municipalities can enjoy fully legitimate local authorities.

Numerous Serbian NGOs have expressed dissatisfaction with the work of certain international institutions in Kosovo, specifically regarding the lack of protection for the Serbian community. What is your view on this?

EULEX has our full support. EULEX performs its monitoring mission to our satisfaction, given its mandate and resources. While we understand the frustrations of some, we believe in cooperation between international missions, including EULEX, and all interested parties.