Lajcak: Kosovo and Serbia must start implementing the Agreement on Normalization by the end of the year

The process of implementing the Agreement for the Normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo had to begin this year, otherwise, several years of effort might be lost, the EU Special Representative for Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajcak said, Reporteri reports.

In an interview for TASR, Lajcak reminded that the process of normalization of relations had reached a "turning point" after both sides had agreed in February and March in Ohrid on essential documents leading to the normalization of mutual relations.

"However, the real implementation of the agreement did not start for six months. Both sides have a high degree of distrust towards each other. They ask to give us what they deserve, then they will do what is necessary," Lajcak said.

This is the reason, Lajcak added, why the EU had presented a seven-point proposal that allowed both sides to continue the parallel implementation of the agreements reached.

"For example, if Pristina starts negotiating guarantees for the Serbs in the north of Kosovo, Serbia will gradually start fulfilling its obligations," Lajcak said.

According to him, the EU proposal is transparent and measurable and can be stopped at any time if one side does not fulfill its obligations.

He described yesterday's negotiations in Brussels between Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic as difficult and confirmed that Kurti had rejected the new EU proposal and that Vucic had accepted it.

"Kurti insists on a document that will de facto push this agenda to the background. I am convinced that the Ohrid Agreement is the best document. Both sides have accepted it and it would be a shame if it falls apart. If that happens, we expect more conflicts, escalation of tensions, and maybe more violence in the north of Kosovo," Lajcak said.