Scholz: Yesterday's negotiations didn't fail; both sides showed readiness to implement the agreement

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz believes that yesterday's negotiations with Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels did not fail because both sides showed readiness to implement the agreement.

Scholz emphasized in a press conference at the end of the two-day EU Summit that Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had both stated that the agreements would be implemented.

"In this truly gloomy situation, we have been able to make progress. I don't share your view that the negotiations failed. I think if we make a political assessment, I believe you can agree with me. Now we have statements from Kurti and Vucic that they will implement the measures from the documents we have drafted, the Basic Agreement, the Ohrid Agreement, and now the concept of a concrete draft for the establishment of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. This has been clearly stated, and it is the right step," the German Chancellor said in response to a journalist's statement that the negotiations had failed. Scholz emphasized that the international community would strive to ensure that this happened.

"Now it is essential to implement this and for all those with political responsibility to find the strength to do something for the future. This is not a matter where, in the end, we can talk about who has the most points; it's about creating a peaceful future for the citizens of Kosovo and Serbia. Both Kosovo and Serbia want to join the EU, and we want to make that happen," he emphasized.

Scholz stressed that for this to happen, Kosovo and Serbia had to become the best neighbors, and this could only succeed if leaders prioritized it.