Suspension of the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue – The impact on the process of European Integration for Kosovo, was the subject of the table KDI organized for the purpose of actualization of the latest developments in the dialogue process, Kosovo's obligations to the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia arising from the SAA, as well as the potential impact that these developments may have on the process of Kosovo's integration into the EU.

Part of the discussion panel were, the Minister of European Integration Mimoza Ahmetaj and members of the Kosovo Assembly: Elmi Reçica (PDK), Njomza Emini (LDK), Glauk Konjufca (VV), Daut Haradinaj (AAK) and Nenad Rasic (PDS).

At the outset of this debate, Jeta Krasniqi of the Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) said that the approved resolution in the Kosovo Assembly requiring from the government to suspend the dialogue can produce various effects which affect both the European integration process of Kosovo as well as the future of the process itself. She added that transparency and inclusiveness remain key elements to this process.

On this occasion, the Minister of European Integration, Mimoza Ahmetaj said that Kosovo has an obligation within the Stabilization and Association Agreement, to be a constructive factor in the dialogue process as has Serbia the Chapter 35 of the negotiations for EU membership. According to her, the dialogue is a dynamic process that will progressively be completed and will feed the process towards European integration of Kosovo.

MP Daut Haradinaj, said that the suspension of the dialogue is just as Kosovo has an obligation to make Serbia aware that it can not fool the Kosovo citizens. According to him, the EU should add requirements on Serbia and not only on Kosovo. Although he stated that AAK has supported the of dialogue process, he stressed that this dialogue should take place on the basis of reciprocity with Serbia.

Whereas, MP Nenad Rasic, said that the dialogue should continue and that there is no other alternative. According to him, this process can be criticised and see what can be done but the interruption of the dialogue only complicates relations even more and nothing can be achieved.

MP Glauk Konjufca, said that this dialogue has started badly because Kosovo side has been completely unprepared. Konjufca has estimated that the government, in March 2011 when this dialogue started, had no platform for this dialogue, unlike Serbia. At the same time, he said, that the dialogue was initiated unilaterally.

Meanwhile, MP Njomza Emini, said that Kosovo has always shown responsibility in the implementation of the agreements reached in the dialogue, unlike Serbia, which is not implementing them. She said that dialogue is not interrupted but is conditioned until the release of former Prime Minister Haradinaj and the cancellation of arrest warrants issued by Serbia for Kosovo citizens.

MP Elmi Recica, said that the dialogue has proved to be necessary but said that change or reformation in relation to Serbia is also necessary. Regarding the Kosovo Serbs he estimated that we need to talk constantly with them and only with Kosovo's efforts and their withdrawal from the decision outside Kosovo, relations will improve.

 

This table is organized in the framework of the memorandum of cooperation signed between KDI and Parliament aimed at increasing the participation of citizens within the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and strengthen the supervisory role of Parliament over the Government, with funding from the Swiss Embassy.