Kosovo’s Kurti: De facto recognition first, then CSM

“I told them short, loud and clear - I cannot give you coffee without a cup. De facto recognition first. Because what is the legal basis for that CSM - is it the Constitution of Kosovo or (former Yugoslav President and Serbian Prime Minister Vojslav) Kostunica’s Constitution? If it is the Constitution of Kosovo, I am here as the Kosovo Prime Minister, if it Kostunica’s Constitution - why don't you form it yourself, what do you need me for? If the legal basis is the Serbian Constitution, then why did you come to Brussels to negotiate with me? Negotiations with me make sense because the legal basis for that Community is the Constitution of Kosovo, but that was not accepted,” Kurti told a joint press conference with head of Kosovo’s negotiating team Besnik Bislimi held on Monday in Pristina.

A high-level meeting of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, hosted by European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, was held on Thursday in Brussels. The meeting was attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak. Following the talks, Borrell said “it was not possible to bridge differences today.”

Kurti told reporters on Monday that they had discussed the CSM and its statute, but that the Serbian side, not just the President but the Government as well, “is refusing to discuss the spirit of the Community of Serb Municipalities.”

He also commented on the 2013 Brussels Agreement, which he described as “the agreement dearest to Serbia,” stressing that the Serbian President violated it in December last year when he wrote to five EU members who have not recognized Kosovo’s independence asking them to reject Kosovo’s official application for membership.

The Kosovo Prime Minister said there was “synchronized” positioning against Kosovo by Vucic, Borrell and Lajcak ahead of the September 14 Dialogue meeting in Brussels.

Kurti said he went to that meeting with “a concrete proposal” based on the principle of inclusiveness, which means that every article of the two sides’ basic agreement must be included in the implementation sequencing plan.

He assessed that Serbia and the EU mediators have a “clear position against Kosovo in general, and especially against the basic agreement.”

“They have gone too far, either they will fully implement the basic agreement or they cannot implement only what Serbia wants. This logic is dead and cannot continue. Only what Serbia is asking for is being implemented in this Lajcak’s plan,” said the Kosovo Prime Minister.