TASS: A De Facto Recognition of Kosovo’s Independence Demanded from Belgrade

Kosovo and Metohija

The agreement on the path to normalization between Kosovo and Serbia, prepared by the EU, demanded from Belgrade to de facto recognize independence of Kosovo, Russian news agency TASS reported on Feb. 28.  

Citing parts of the document which the European External Action Service (EEAS) published after the meeting of the Serbian and Kosovo leaders in Brussels, TASS noted that the agreement envisaged mutual recognition of passports, commitment to work on overall normalization of relations, that Serbia could not represent Kosovo in the international arena, and that the Contracting Parties should exchange diplomatic missions.  

Noting that according to the Agreement, the Parties shall establish permanent missions and shall not represent the other in the international sphere or act on its behalf, TASS said that it actually applied exclusively to Serbia, of which Kosovo was an integral part within the internationally recognized borders.  

“Serbia will not object to Kosovo’s membership in any international organization,” the document stated openly, TASS observed, adding that on the other hand, Kosovo should commit to ensure an appropriate level of self-management for the Serbian community in Kosovo, that is, to fulfill Belgrade’s demand for creation of an Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities.  

TASS also cited [EU High Representative Josep] Borrell as saying that the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo on Feb. 27 “agreed that no further discussions are needed on” the Agreement and that they were also ready to start implementing the Agreement, but only after a roadmap guiding the implementation was finalized, which would require another round of talks to be held in mid-March.