Courtesy of PM Albin Kurti.

West Welcomes Kosovo’s ‘Principled’ Acceptance of EU Plan

The US and the European Union have welcomed Kosovo's decision to accept in principle the European Union's proposal for Kosovo-Serbia relations.

The US and EU have welcomed Kosovo’s decision to accept the EU proposal on Kosovo-Serbia relations in principle. The US ambassador, Jeffrey Hovenier, said the US will continue to provide full support to the EU-facilitated Dialogue. “The interim agreement will bring significant benefits to both Kosovo and Serbia,” Hovenier wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile, the EU Special Representative for the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues said after meeting Kosovo PM Albin Kurti  and Deputy PM Besnik Bislimi that he is also glad that Kosovo has also accepted the EU proposal in principle. “We will continue our discussions at a High-level Meeting,” Miroslav Lajcak wrote on Twitter.

Kurti, after lunch with Lajcak, on Monday said that Kosovo accepted the EU’s proposal, known also as the Franco-German plan. “We consider it a good basis for further discussions and a solid platform to move forward,” Kurti said.

On Monday, Kurti met the ambassadors and accredited diplomats of the diplomatic missions in Kosovo.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told the media on January 23 that representatives of the EU and US had told him that if Serbia does not accept the so-called Franco-German proposal, its European Union integration process will be halted and investments blocked.

Vucic said he was told: “You must accept this plan, and if you do not accept it … you will face, number one, the interruption of the European integration process; number two… the stoppage and withdrawal of investments; and number three, comprehensive measures in the political and economic sense that will cause great damage to the Republic of Serbia”.

The plan has never been made public in full. However, in November 2022, Belgrade and Brussels-based media published what they reported was a leaked copy.

07/02/2023 - 15:09

07 February 2023 - 15:09

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