Petar Petković on the "heart" of the Brussels Agreement which, after 13 years, still doesn't beat, despite EU guarantees
Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petković stated that even today, 13 years after the signing of the First Agreement on the Principles Regulating the Normalization of Relations between Belgrade and Pristina, the heart of that agreement – the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO) – has still not been formed, despite firm guarantees from the European Union.
TL;DR
- The Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO) has not been formed 13 years after the signing of the agreement on the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Priština.
- Petković accuses Pristina's political structures, led by Aljbin Kurti, of consistently working to intimidate and disenfranchise Serbs, aiming to drive them from their homes.
- Belgrade remains committed to dialogue as the only reasonable path to resolving issues in Kosovo and Metohija and insists on the formation of the ZSO.
- The EU, as a guarantor of the agreement, is urged to persuade Pristina to fulfill its obligations.
- The formation of the ZSO with all its executive powers, as agreed in 2013 and 2015, is considered essential for coexistence, lasting peace, and stability.
- The Statute of the ZSO needs to be urgently agreed upon, as its draft was completed eight years ago.
- Belgrade has informed international actors that the continuation of dialogue depends on steps taken by Brussels, specifically regarding the implementation of the ZSO agreement.