Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti refuses to meet with Serbian President Vucic

In Brussels, the capital of Belgium, the European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell held separate bilateral meetings with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic as part of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue.

The EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, also attended the meetings. Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti refused to meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in the trilateral meeting within the scope of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue.

"THE MAN DID NOT WANT TO SEE ME"

Following his meeting with EU representatives, Serbian President Vucic told the press, "I would like to inform you that the other meeting with Kurti did not take place. Kurti did not want to meet with me, or perhaps he did not dare to. Ask him the reason. I think you will hear the reason from European officials. The meeting did not take place."

When asked by reporters why the meeting did not take place and what the problem was, Vucic replied, "None. The man did not want to see me." Stating that he returned to the meeting three times, Vucic said that Borrell and Lajcak informed him that Kurti was not ready to meet with him and that the dialogue would continue through chief negotiators.

The Serbian leader said, "I don't know if he didn't want to meet with me or if he didn't dare to. Maybe he finds me too repulsive. I could have met with Borrell myself, just as I met with Lajcak last week. I wouldn't have needed to travel such a long way."

Stating that they discussed the situation in Kosovo with Borrell, Vucic said, "I expect the meeting to continue; there is a lot of work to be done."

"KURTI SET THREE CONDITIONS FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE PROCESS"

Borrell stated that Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti was not ready for the trilateral meeting. Borrell announced that Kurti had set three conditions for the continuation of the normalization process. Speaking to the press after separate meetings with Kurti and Vucic, Borrell said, "The Serbian side was ready for the meeting, but the Kosovo side did not want to participate. It takes two to tango. Unfortunately, no progress was made today. Prime Minister Kurti set three conditions for the normalization process to continue.

I am quoting him: first, the basic agreements must be signed by the heads of government to gain official status; second, the withdrawal of the reservation letter dated December 13 by former Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic; and third, the handover of Milan Radoicic and the paramilitary terrorist group under his command to the Kosovo judicial authorities."

Emphasizing that neither side is fulfilling their responsibilities, Borrell stated that the normalization process could progress faster if the parties reached an agreement.

NO MEETING SINCE THE BANJSKA ATTACK

Kurti and Vucic have not met since the attack carried out by a group of armed Serbs in the village of Banjska in northern Kosovo in September of last year.

In the attack in Banjska, a heavily armed group led by Kosovo Serb Milan Radoicic attacked the Kosovo police and caused the death of one police officer.

Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti had stated that the attack was planned and directed by Serbia.

News Source: İHA