Serbian authorities have reiterated their position that the pace of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia is directly conditioned by the establishment of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities in Kosovo.
According to Serbia’s so-called Office for Kosovo, Serbian chief negotiator Petar Petković told the European Union’s Special Envoy for the dialogue, Peter Sørensen, that no meaningful progress can be expected without concrete steps toward forming the Association.
During the meeting, Petković called for the immediate launch of discussions on the draft statute of the Association, stressing that this issue, in Serbia’s view, is a precondition for the continuation of talks between the two sides.
He also criticized Kosovo’s laws related to foreigners and vehicle regulations, claiming that these legal measures are worsening the position of the Serb community. In this context, Petković accused Kosovo institutions of unilateral and escalatory actions, alleging that Serbs in Kosovo are facing restrictions on freedom of movement, access to healthcare and education, and personal security.
Kurti Sets Clear Conditions
Prior to his visit to Belgrade, EU envoy Peter Sørensen traveled to Prishtina, where he met with Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti. Kurti reaffirmed Kosovo’s readiness to normalize relations with Serbia, but emphasized that this process requires clear and concrete actions from the Serbian side.
Kurti specifically demanded:
- The extradition of Milan Radoičić, whom he described as responsible for the Banjska attack
- The withdrawal of a letter sent by former Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, in which Serbia expressed reservations about implementing parts of previously agreed agreements
- The formal signing of the Basic Agreement and its Implementation Annex
According to Kurti, only through these steps can trust be built and a path opened toward genuine progress in the EU-mediated dialogue.
