Belgrade, Pristina to commit to normalization

Andreas Schockenhoff from the ruling CDU/CSU coalition, who headed the German delegation, told a new conference that Belgrade and Pristina should show an evident will to sign an agreement on normalization of relations. That is a necessary prerequisite for Serbia to get a starting date for EU entry talks, he said. Schockenhoff explained that the evident will could be demonstrated in a way that would imply that the presidents or prime ministers voice their commitment in writing, or orally in front of cameras, to regulating the normalization of relations in a legally binding way during Serbia's EU entry talks. According to Schockenhoff, the implementation of that agreement would not be expected before the end of Serbia's negotiations with the EU. The clearly expressed will for a legally binding normalization of the relations between Serbia and Kosovo is the key one out of the seven points that the Bundestag deems necessary for giving its approval for Serbia to get a starting date for EU accession talks in June. The German parliamentary delegation presented these seven points during its previous visit to Belgrade in September last year. Today, Schockenhoff said that Germany's conditions have not changed in the meantime, but that during this visit the German delegation estimated to what extent the conditions have been met. As particularly encouraging signals, Schockenhoff mentioned the meeting between Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga, and Prime Minister Ivica Dacic's latest view published in the Belgrade-based weekly NIN ( “the lies have been told for 10 years that Kosovo is ours“), underscoring that Germany recognized the exceptional, historic importance of these events. We know that when assessing the efforts in the dialogue with Kosovo, Pristina's approach is also of central importance, so we are exerting influence on Pristina, and we also have certain expectations from Pristina, Schockenhoff said, adding that they asked from the Kosovo side to demonstrate readiness for a compromise. That means that we could not criticize Serbia, if it proves ready for a compromise, while Kosovo is not, he explained. Schockenhoff voiced confidence that a report that the European Commission (EC) would publish on April 16 would contain the documented, clear progress of Serbia when compared to the report from October of 2012. The Bundestag noted the progress achieved in Serbia, and it would deliver a decision on the start of Serbia's EU entry talks based on the EC report on what has been achieved and implemented, he said. The German parliamentarians noted in the material distributed to reporters that during the talks in Belgrade they got the impression that they could rely on the announcements of the Serbian government, adding that had not always been the case. As regards other conditions, they underlined the need for concrete agreements aimed at disbanding parallel structures in northern Kosovo, the creation of new ones that would also be accepted by the Serb population, transparent ways of receiving financial assistance from Serbia. They also noted that Belgrade needs to put in further efforts to exercise an influence on Serbs in northern Kosovo to accept the EU Mission so that EULEX could have the freedom of movement, and with which they could cooperate on probes into bomb attacks. The German parliamentarians noted that there is a clear will to carry out a comprehensive judiciary reform, that the strategy has been drafted, so added efforts should be invested in that field. Regarding the arson attack on the German Embassy in Belgrade during the protests against the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, they said that even five years after the incident, the authorities have not found those behind that attack, not even an indictment has been issued. Concerning reconciliation in the region, they said that even after the change of the government, the efforts are being invested in establishing contacts with neighbors and fostering good neighborly relations. In that context, they placed a special emphasis on the meeting between Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga. When asked whether there are requirements for Pristina, the German parliamentarians answered that they agreed that the opening of EU entry talks with Pristina is not on the agenda in the foreseeable future, so the requirements have been presented to Belgrade only - for which there is no doubt that its accession talks would be opened, it just remains to be seen when.