Blinken welcomes the compatibility between Kosovo and Serbia for the implementation of the European proposal

The American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, welcomed the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia for the implementation of the Agreement towards the normalization of relations.

"Meeting the obligations under the Framework Agreement, as part of the ongoing commitment to reconciliation, will provide great opportunities for people in both countries and accelerate their path to membership in the European Union," Blinken said in a statement.

The American chief diplomat congratulated the prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, for the leadership shown in reaching this agreement.

"The United States will continue to be actively engaged, in coordination with EU partners, to support Kosovo and Serbia to work towards a predictable and peaceful relationship. We will continue to support the advancement of stability and prosperity in the Western Balkans", said Blinken.

Kurti and Vuçic, under the mediation of the European Union, on March 18 agreed on the implementation annex of the European proposal for the normalization of relations.

In these negotiations, which were held in Ohrid, North Macedonia, Washington's envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, was also an observer.

The European Union said the parties at the Ohrid meeting did not formally sign the agreement but agreed to implement it.

On February 27, Kosovo and Serbia agreed on the European proposal for the normalization of relations.

This proposal, consisting of 11 articles, does not specifically mention mutual recognition. However, the document requires both countries to accept each other's documents and symbols, including: passports, diplomas and license plates.

The European proposal also requires the parties to implement all the agreements reached so far in the dialogue for the normalization of relations, including the one for the formation of the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority in Kosovo, which the Government in Prishtina has refused until now, on the grounds that it may jeopardize the functionality of the state.

After the round of dialogue in Ohrid, the prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said that the agreement reached means "de facto mutual recognition".

Asked by journalists if he will allow the formation of the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority, he said that it is about "an adequate level of self-management of the Serbian community" and "not about self-government".

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, said that the formation of the Association "has become a priority obligation".

"I have to say that I am very pleased about this," said Vucic.

The dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, under the mediation of the EU and the support of the USA, started in 2011. This process aims to lead the parties towards the complete normalization of relations./ REL