Meetings in the framework of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, at the level of chief negotiators, take place in Brussels on Tuesday.

European Union sources have confirmed the meetings, describing them as “meetings in the framework of dialogue”, because from past experience it has been seen that the parties often did not meet at all, but only had separate meetings with the EU special envoy for dialogue, Miroslav Lajçak.

However, on February 22 there are plans to hold a joint meeting. Besnik Bislimi, Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, is expected to have his first meeting with Lajçak. Afterwards, the head of the Serbian delegation, Petar Petkovi., Will have the same meeting.

In the afternoon, a joint meeting mediated by Lajçak is expected to take place. According to EU sources, Tuesday’s meetings will serve to continue discussions related to the implementation of the agreements reached so far and the next steps in the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

The dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, mediated by the EU, started in 2011. According to diplomatic sources, it is expected that the topics to be discussed will be the issue of missing persons, that of car license plates and the issue of energy.

The Serbian side, according to Petkovic in an interview with Serbian state television, is expected to seek to discuss the implementation of the agreement on the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo and the holding of Serbian elections in Kosovo. 

Serbia holds snap parliamentary and presidential elections on April 3rd. Kosovo institutions, unlike previous practice, have warned that they will not allow their organization in Kosovo.

The February 22 meeting takes place after a relatively long time without meetings, with the exception of those of experts on the issue of car license plates. A transitional agreement was reached on this issue in the autumn of last year, but it was said that a long-term agreement should be reached within a period of six months.

Diplomatic sources in Brussels have warned that Tuesday’s meetings will be used to test whether there is sufficient readiness between the parties for a high-level meeting between Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.(REL)

/Klara Ruci/