Kallas on meetings with Vucic and Kurti in New York: It is time to move forward

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said that, during separate meetings in New York with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, she had emphasized the need to advance the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

“Progress on normalization and progress on the path towards the EU must go hand in hand,” Kallas wrote on the social media platform X.

She noted that binding agreements had been reached within the EU-facilitated dialogue, particularly the Ohrid Agreement.

“Their implementation is not a favor to Brussels, but an obligation to citizens and to a region waiting for normal relations,” Kallas said.

She added that the EU would continue to act as an impartial facilitator, but that mediation could not substitute for political will in Belgrade and Pristina.

“It is time to move forward,” Kallas concluded.

Earlier today, Vucic said that during his meeting with Kallas he had insisted on the implementation of the provisions of the Brussels Agreement, particularly the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities.

Kurti, for his part, asked Kallas to have the EU exert pressure on Belgrade to extradite the suspects in the Banjska attack case, while also expressing concern over the judgment against the former KLA leaders.