French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Thursday during a visit to Belgrade that Kosovo’s “one-sided” and “concerning” actions are sending the wrong signals, and that France is committed to the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo.
Macron began a two-day visit to Belgrade on Thursday, where Serbia’s Ministry of Defense signed an agreement with France for the purchase of 12 new fighter jets.
When asked about the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, Macron said that the issue “will not be resolved without compromise from both sides and, under the circumstances, if there is no political courage to reach a solution.”
“Alongside our European partners, we have expressed our concerns about Kosovo’s recent one-sided steps which do not send a good signal,” Macron said, likely referring to recent decisions by the Kosovo Government to close some branches of the Serbian Post in the north of the country and its intentions to open the main bridge over the Ibar River in Mitrovica.
He emphasized that France wants Kosovo to establish the Association of Serb-majority municipalities.
“Be assured that France will continue to pay special attention to the conditions under which the Serbian community lives in Kosovo, and in this context, we are particularly committed to the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities,” he said.
Kosovo and Serbia have previously reached agreements on its establishment, and drafts and proposals have been prepared by various parties, but the Association has never been formed.
Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has previously stated that Kosovo does not hesitate to send a draft to the West for review by the Constitutional Court but is against the unilateral implementation of the agreement.
The agreement requires respect for the territorial integrity of both countries and that Serbia does not oppose Kosovo’s membership in international organizations.
Kosovo and Serbia also reached an agreement on the normalization of relations in the early months of 2023, but no steps have been taken toward its implementation.
Osmani believes that Serbia has withdrawn from the agreement on normalizing relations with Kosovo and considers that if her country is to establish the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, international allies must provide security guarantees.
“Implementing the agreement without security guarantees, without membership in international organizations, is meaningless,” Osmani told Radio Free Europe, mentioning the need for Kosovo’s membership in NATO and the Council of Europe, as well as the activation of its recognition campaign, among other things.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated on August 21, after a meeting with Senator Chris Murphy in the US, that Kosovo is committed to implementing the agreement, but for it to be implemented, it must also be accepted by Serbia.
In December of last year, former Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić sent a letter to European officials confirming that Serbia has red lines when it comes to implementing the Normalization Agreement.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has repeatedly stated that Serbia will neither recognize Kosovo’s sovereignty nor allow its membership in the United Nations.
