As Serbia’s Overseas Minister Ivica Dacic claimed the Czech Presidency has washed its arms of Kosovo’s latest EU membership software, and said that Hungary would additionally block its path, it appears the fact, in line with these concerned, is a bit of completely different.
On the finish of final week, Kosovo formally utilized for EU membership in a transfer fraught with obstacles as 5 member states; Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain, don’t recognise its independence declared in 2008.
Moreover, the information didn’t go down properly in Belgrade, which refuses to recognise the sovereignty of its former province and has moved to dam its membership to different key worldwide establishments.
On Tuesday, Serbian Overseas Minister Ivica Dacic claimed that the presidency of the Council of the EU Presidency, at present held by the Czech Republic, is not going to take care of it.
“The Czech Republic has accepted the applying, and in line with the bulletins, as issues are immediately, within the session that must be held this week, they are going to solely info that they’ve accepted the applying and can now not put it within the process,” Dacic mentioned.
Nonetheless, in line with EURACTIV.cz sources, Dacic’s assertion is deceptive.
From the start, the Czech Council of the EU Presidency’s plan was to simply accept the applying, which occurred on Thursday (15 December). Furthermore, the Czech Presidency supply informed EURACTIV.cz that it had not solely knowledgeable the opposite member states but additionally forwarded Kosovo’s software to the Council on Tuesday (20 December).
As EURACTIV.cz learnt, no extra may have been completed at this stage by the Czech Presidency, and the work has to proceed underneath the Swedish Presidency, which begins on 1 January.
For the applying to proceed, a consensus amongst member states is required, which will likely be laborious to return by. Dacic, nonetheless, additionally claimed that Hungary may stand in its approach.
“There are 5 international locations, together with Greece, that haven’t recognised Kosovo, and given the place of Hungary, which, regardless of recognising Kosovo, he doesn’t vote for it in worldwide boards”, Dacic emphasised.
EURACTIV contacted the Hungarian authorities for remark however didn’t obtain a response by the point of publication.
Moreover, it’s unclear precisely which worldwide boards Hungary, an in depth ally to Belgrade that nonetheless recognises Pristina, has voted in opposition to Kosovo and for what cause.
In the meantime, throughout her September go to to the nation, Hungarian President Katalin Novák mentioned Hungary is decided and dedicated to supporting the mixing of the Western Balkan international locations into the European Union, together with Kosovo.
Talking at a joint press convention together with her counterpart President Vjosa Osmani, the Hungarian head of state confused that Hungary has supported visa-free standing for Kosovo from the outset.
Dacic’s feedback are to be taken with a pinch of salt when tensions are simmering between the 2 international locations within the Serb-majority north of Kosovo and alongside the border.
Serbs have erected barricades alongside key routes to the border between Kosovo and Serbia, remaining in place for the final ten days as sporadic assaults on police and vandalism proceed.
On Tuesday, Osmani met with the commander of the NATO-led worldwide peacekeeping drive KFOR Angelo Michel Ristuccia to debate the scenario.
“At present, President Vjosa Osmani hosted the commander of KFOR, Main Basic Angelo Michele Ristuccia, with whom she talked in regards to the newest developments and safety within the nation,” the announcement on the president’s Fb states.
KFOR just lately introduced it had elevated the variety of patrol groups within the north simply days after Serbian President Aleksander Vucic formally requested NATO to ship its personal troops to the nation underneath UN Decision 1244.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Albin Kurti mentioned that even eradicating the barricades carries a danger of accidents. He informed The Guardian he had given KFOR time to steer these behind the blockades to dismantle them, however he was involved that issues may escalate.
“Our concern is that the elimination of those barricades can’t exclude victims, and that’s the reason we wish to be as cautious as doable, to ensure that there will likely be no destabilisation and that there will likely be relative peace and safety,” he mentioned.
“Nonetheless, we can’t permit this violation of legality and constitutionality eternally. So, sure, this could finish; the earlier, wouldthe higher,” he added.
The Minister of Inside Affairs of Kosovo, Xhelal Sveçla, then accused Goran Rakiç from the Serbian Record of being behind the barricades, in collaboration with legal organisations.
In a publish on Fb, Sveçla mentioned that “the one language they know is murders, whereas the one language we all know is stability, order and legislation, in direction of everybody and with out distinction”.
“We’re making most efforts with our companions to take away the barricades with none doable escalation within the meantime they’re arming the gangs contained in the barricades. They don’t have the assist of Serbian residents of their legal acts, subsequently they attempt to scare them with fictions about murders and homicide lists”, Sveçla wrote.
In the meantime, EULEX, the EU-backed rule of legislation mission in Kosovo described the scenario as “disturbing” and “tense”.
“Throughout our patrols within the area, we witness a disturbing presence of armed males, typically by masked people and teams, within the north of Kosovo. That is unacceptable. We’re witnessing the set up of further barricades, which have to be eliminated instantly,” EULEX mentioned.
