Bogdanovic reveals for N1 content of roadmap discussed in Brussels

“I got that roadmap last night or, better say, annex to the Agreement on the path to normalization between Kosovo and Serbia – it has eight articles that clearly and specifically talk about the deadlines for the fulfillment of certain obligations accepted under the agreement,” said Bogdanovic.

According to this document, once the agreement is signed, we have 150 days to implement what has been signed, he explained.

Bogdanovic read a short version of the roadmap articles.

Article 1 says that the annex is an integral part of the agreement.

Article 2 describes the sequence of events for the implementation of the agreement. The events stem from the parties’ obligations listed in articles 1, 4 ,7, 8, 9 and 10 of the basic agreement. All other agreements come into effect with the signing of the basic agreement – meaning that 2,3, 5 and 11 come into effect immediately upon the signing of the basic agreement.

Article 3 reads that no later than 15 days after the signing of the agreement a management team will present the first draft statute in order to ensure an adequate level of self-governance for the Serb community in Kosovo, for negotiations on the statute with the mediation of the EU.

Article 4 reads that, once the draft statute is presented and negotiations on it launched, the parties will enable the immediate coming into effect of a) diplomas, license plates, passports, customs stamps and b) exchange of permanent missions.

Article 5 says the parties undertake to complete the negotiations on the agreed statute no later than by the deadline agreed in Article 8 (150 days) and that the Government of Kosovo will confirm and pass a decree and ensure the legal viability of the statute.

Article 6 – no later than 30 days after the signing of the agreement, the parties will set up a joint committee tasked with supervising the implementation of the agreement under the oversight of the EU.

Article 7 – within 30 days from the formation of the committee, Kosovo will formalize the status of the Serbian Orthodox Church and will begin an internal procedure for the protection of cultural heritage.

"I am very concerned about this annex article,” said Bogdanovic, adding that no Serbian Orthodox Church representatives have commented on the agreement.

Article 8 – within 150 days from the signing of the agreement, the EU will organize a high-level conference with the other donors to adopt a special package for financial support and investments. The conference will not take place until the EU assesses that all provisions of the agreement have been fulfilled.

Bogdanovic said the annex, that is, the roadmap, has not been adopted and that it was discussed in Brussels on Monday but that neither of the two sides accepted it.