European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says an agreement has been reached on ways to implement an EU-backed deal on normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo.
Speaking late on March 18 at after Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti met with him for three-way talks in North Macedonia for some 12 hours, Borrell said implementing commitments from both sides is a precondition for their integration into the EU.
"What the parties have accepted: the agreement and its implementation through the annex will become an integral part of their respective European Union paths," Borrell said.
It had been expected that the March 18 meeting would result in an agreement on the annex to the EU's original 11-point proposal for the normalization of relations following the 1998-1999 war the two fought and Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 which Belgrade still does not recognize.
Vucic confirmed an agreement was reached on the implementation of the EU-backed deal, adding that he and Kurti had "a decent conversation" despite many disagreements during their meeting in Ohrid.
WATCH: U.S. Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar has said that the Serbia-Kosovo normalization agreement will create "a peaceful, predictable, and friendly relationship" between the two countries and will open "the door for both of them to move faster into Euro-Atlantic structures.
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U.S. Special Envoy: Normalization Agreement Creates Predictable Relationship Between Serbia And Kosovo
“Parties could not reach an agreement on this more detailed proposal,” Borrell said. “Kosovo lacked flexibility on the substance (of the agreement), while Serbia previously stated its principle not to sign although they are ready to implement.”
“It is clear that both parties will gain a significant benefit from this agreement, because the dialogue is not only because Kosovo and Serbia...It is about the stability, the security and the prosperity of the whole region,” Borrell added.
Tensions were running high in the runnup to the meeting with a solution to the dispute becoming more important as war rages in Ukraine and fears mount that Russia, a traditional ally of Belgrade, could try to stir instability in the volatile Balkans.
Vucic and Kurti first held separate meetings with Borrell before beginning a three-way session that concluded late in the evening.
Borrell said that evem though the sides decided not to officially sign the deal, they nonetheless agreed to start implementing it as soon as possible.
"The annex and the agreement are considered adopted through my statement that will be published [soon]," and not through a joint statement signed by all parties, as originally envisioned, Borrell said.
He noted, for instance, that Kosovo had agreed to immediately begin to implement steps to enhance self-management of Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo.
"Kosovo has agreed to launch immediately - and when I am saying immediately, I mean immediately - negotiations with the European Union facilitated dialogue on establishing a specific arrangement and guarantees to ensure an appropriated level of self-management for the Serbian communities in Kosovo," he said.
Speaking on March 19, Vucic said he didn't sign any document in Ohrid "because Serbia is an internationally recognized state, and Kosovo is not."
The agreement envisages that Belgrade will not recognize Kosovo under international law, but will take note of its statehood and recognize Kosovo's passports and custom documents.
Kosovo is a majority ethnic Albanian former Serbian province. Even though Kosovo declared independence in 2008, Serbia still claims it as its territory.