PRISTINA – In a written interview for KosovaPress, Peter Sørensen, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade Pristina Dialogue, stated that the EU has not set a deadline for concluding the dialogue process. Sørensen stressed that more important than setting a date is that the parties implement the agreements they have already agreed to, it was reported by Koha Ditore.
“I will not set a deadline for concluding the dialogue as a whole: what matters is that both sides implement what they have already agreed to. Progress, not the calendar, is my measuring stick”, Peter Sørensen remarked.
In addition, he announced that there is currently no date for the next meeting of the chief negotiators, saying that preparations continue and that he is in regular contact with both delegations.
“I do not have a date to announce regarding the next meeting of the chief negotiators. Preparations continue and I am in regular contact with both delegations to determine when a meeting can bring results,” he underlined.
Speaking about a high-level meeting between the acting Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, Sorensen said that it will only be called when it can contribute to achieving concrete results.
“It is neither a reward nor a photo opportunity. It is called upon when it can help achieve results, and the High Representative is ready to call upon it when both leaders are ready to deliver concrete results,” Sorensen said.
Speaking about the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement, he noted that it is legally binding under international law, despite the fact that Kurti and Vučić had not signed it.
“The 2023 Ohrid Agreement is legally binding under international law, with or without signatures,” he stated.
According to him, both sides had agreed on the text of the agreement in Ohrid and have not raised any objections to the manner determined by the EU for registering their consent.
“What is missing is not the signatures, but the implementation. This is where the energy should be focused,” he said.
At the same time, he reiterated the EU’s request to Serbia regarding the September 2023 armed attack in Banjska, it was reported by KoSSev.info.
“Establishing responsibility for events in Banja Luka is essential… The call by the EU call is clear and consistent, and is repeated in every contact with the Serbian authorities – we expect Belgrade to arrest and bring to justice the perpetrators of the 2023 attack”, Peter Sørensen noted.
