The Kosovo-Serbia case, the USA issues a definitive order

The envoy of the United States for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, has said that the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority is an obligation that must be implemented.

"This request is presented in the Brussels agreement. There is expectation that it will form. Our position is to be formed in a way that is a win for both parties", said Escobar in a virtual conversation with journalists on February 28.

Asked if Kosovo has deadlines for the formation of the Association, Escobar said that the question is how soon it will be formed.

"I believe that with this basic agreement, Kosovo has understood that it must form [the Association]. I don't want to set deadlines, but I want to say that the discussion should start immediately".

Kosovo and Serbia have reached two agreements on the Association, in 2013 and 2015. However, the Constitutional Court has found that the last agreement is not in full harmony with the Constitution.

Serbia insists on the establishment of the Association, but the Government of Kosovo opposes a mono-ethnic association, which it says could create a new level of power.

The senior American official said that he hopes that Kosovo and Serbia will implement the agreement for which they reached agreement on February 27 in Brussels.

"We hope not to use sticks, but carrots. And they are clear. Not only do they come closer to peaceful relations, but the path to European integration is also opened. We hope that both parties will fulfill their obligations", said Escobar.

He has said that the US fully supports the dialogue mediated by the EU, but is not part of it.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vu?i?, at the meeting on February 27, agreed that they no longer need to discuss the European proposal for the normalization of relations.