All agreements from the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue must be implemented, including the Freedom of Movement Agreement from 2011, the EU’s special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Miroslav Lajčak, said in Serbia on Thursday.
Lajčak tweeted that he had “a difficult but responsible discussion” with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to prevent the escalation of tensions in the north of Kosovo.
At the end of July, Serbs living in the majority north of Kosovo protested over requirements to adopt Pristina-issued licensed plates and IDs instead of those issued by Belgrade.
“I conveyed the messages and stressed that all Dialogue agreements must be implemented, including the 2011 Agreement on Freedom of Movement. We will continue our talks later tonight,” Lajčak tweeted.
The movement agreement was approved by both sides, but Serbia has not implemented it. This led to Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti implementing reciprocity measures which resulted in roadblocks, threats of aggression and displays of military might from Belgrade.
After a private meeting, Vučić and Lajčak were joined by the US deputy assistant secretary of state, Gabriel Escobar, the US special envoy for the Western Balkans. “We appreciate the president’s commitment to peace and stability. We are going on,” Escobar stated.
Lajčak and Escobar began their visit two days ago in Kosovo.
Earlier on Thursday, after meeting with Kosovo Serb representatives in Severna Mitrovica, in Kosovo, Lajčak said that Escobar and he were doing everything possible to prevent riots in northern Kosovo.
After meeting with Serb Ticket chief Goran Rakić and the mayors of the four mainly Serb inhabited municipalities in northern Kosovo, Lajčak told reporters that the international community wanted to avoid the situation that happened on 31 July.
“This is why we are here today so that people are not afraid, so that they don’t fear losing their lives, for a normal life, so we are doing all we can to prevent barricades,” Lajčak said, amid heightened tensions over the Kosovo government’s reciprocal measures as they apply to Serbian vehicle licence plates and entry and exit documents.
Escobar only said that “the mission will continue in Belgrade.” Serb Ticket representatives did not speak to the media after the meeting with Lajčak and Escobar.
Earlier this week, the NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping force said they were ready to respond to the situation, including preventing roadblocks and restoring order and freedom of movement.
