Kosovo and Serbia : Agreements (en-tr)

Belgrad-Priştine Diyalog Süreci Müzakerelerinde Varılan Anlaşma

Türkiye, “bölgesel sahiplenme” ve “kapsayıcılık” ilkeleri çerçevesinde, öteden beri Kosova’nın bölgesel forumlarda layıkıyla temsil edilmesi gerektiğini savunmuştur. Varılan bu uzlaşıyla Kosova’nın Avrupa-Atlantik yapılarıyla bütünleşme hedefi doğrultusunda ciddi bir mesafe katettiğine inanıyor ve bölgesel forumlarda Kosova’nın da yer alacak olmasından dolayı memnuniyet duyuyoruz. Balkanlarda kalıcı barış ve istikrar için kilit ülke olarak gördüğümüz ve ikili, bölgesel ve uluslararası alanda yakın işbirliği ilişkileri tesis ettiğimiz, dostumuz Sırbistan’ın sözkonusu mutabakatlar münasebetiyle AB üyelik adaylığına daha fazla yaklaşmış olmasını umuyoruz.

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Geçtiğimiz yıl Mart ayından bu yana AB’nin kolaylaştırıcılığında gerçekleştirilen Belgrad-Priştine diyalog süreci müzakerelerinde, Kosova’nın bölgesel forumlarda temsili ve entegre sınır yönetimi konularında bugün (24 Şubat) varılan mutabakatları memnuniyetle karşılıyoruz. Sergiledikleri esnek tutum dolayısıyla Belgrad ve Priştine Hükümetlerini kutluyoruz. Bu mutabakatları Priştine ile Belgrad arasındaki ilişkilerin normalleşmesinin yanısıra Balkanlar’da barış ve istikrarın pekiştirilmesi yolunda atılmış önemli bir adım olarak değerlendiriyoruz.

Türkiye, “bölgesel sahiplenme” ve “kapsayıcılık” ilkeleri çerçevesinde, öteden beri Kosova’nın bölgesel forumlarda layıkıyla temsil edilmesi gerektiğini savunmuştur. Varılan bu uzlaşıyla Kosova’nın Avrupa-Atlantik yapılarıyla bütünleşme hedefi doğrultusunda ciddi bir mesafe katettiğine inanıyor ve bölgesel forumlarda Kosova’nın da yer alacak olmasından dolayı memnuniyet duyuyoruz.

Balkanlarda kalıcı barış ve istikrar için kilit ülke olarak gördüğümüz ve ikili, bölgesel ve uluslararası alanda yakın işbirliği ilişkileri tesis ettiğimiz, dostumuz Sırbistan’ın sözkonusu mutabakatlar münasebetiyle AB üyelik adaylığına daha fazla yaklaşmış olmasını umuyoruz.

Türkiye dış politikasında özel önem ve öncelik atfettiği Balkanlar’da son yıllarda kaydedilen olumlu gelişmelerden büyük memnuniyet duymaktadır.

Regarding the Agreement on the Belgrad-Pristina Dialogue Process

We welcome the agreements reached today (24 February) on the representation of Kosovo in the regional fora and the integrated border management in the negotiations under the EU facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Process going on since last March. We congratulate the respective Governments of Belgrade and Pristina on their flexible stance. We consider these agreements as a major step towards the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina as well as the consolidation of peace and stability in the Balkans.

In line with the principles of “regional ownership” and “all-inclusiveness”, Turkey has been advocating ever since Kosovo’s rightful representation in the regional fora. We believe that with this agreement Kosovo has made headway on its integration with Euro-Atlantic structures and welcome that Kosovo will take part in regional forums.

We have established close cooperative relations in bilateral, regional and international areas with Serbia which we consider as a key country for the lasting peace and stability in the Balkans. We hope that our friend Serbia has further approached to the EU candidacy thanks to these agreements.

Turkey welcomes the positive developments recently recorded in the Balkans to which it attaches special importance and assigns high priority.

Source.

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Agreement reached on Kosovo’s regional representation

By Igor Jovanovic

This EU-mediated agreement between Serbia and Kosovo — reached in Brussels after three days of negotations — gives new status to Pristina in the international community, and may help pave the way for Belgrade’s accession into the EU.

Both EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule and foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton welcomed the agreement as a “major step forward”. Ashton described it as “particularly welcome” in view of upcoming deliberations on offering Serbia official candidate status.

In her statement, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said “We also hope these agreements will open the door to Serbia’s EU candidacy. Serbia’s progress towards European integration is good for Serbia, good for Kosovo, and good for the future of the entire region.”

She began however by noting “This is an important step for Kosovo. These agreements are consistent with Kosovo’s independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, and move Kosovo closer towards full European integration, which the United States continues to support. Kosovo will now sit at the table in regional fora as an equal partner, representing and speaking for itself.”

The agreement was reached on Friday (February 24th), during the ninth negotiating session between Pristina and Belgrade over Kosovo’s regional representation and joint management of their border.

The stumbling block had been the name under which Kosovo would appear at regional meetings. Serbia has refused to recognise the independence that Kosovo declared in February 2008, though more than 80 nations, including 22 of the 27 EU states, recognise Kosovo. The bilateral dispute has stalled Serbia’s EU accession.

Serbia has said that it continues to have responsibily for Serb-dominated northern Kosovo, which in a referendum earlier this month overwhelmingly voted to disregard Kosovo government institutions.

According to the achieved solution, Kosovo, instead of the hitherto title Kosovo-UNMIK, will be presented as Kosovo*. A footnote will state, “This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.”

Both Belgrade and Pristina, which had had a dispute over mentioning the Kosovo Declaration of Independence in the footnote, declared victory after the meeting ended. Serbian President Boris Tadic said that after the agreement, Kosovo would not be presented as an independent state at regional fora.

“With the achieved agreement, the ‘Both Europe and Kosovo’ policy that I have been leading and for which I had received support from the Serbian citizens has passed this historic test, thereby proving that this is the only realistic approach that yields results. That policy secures Serbia’s European future and preserves our national interests, but also shows that Serbia is a factor of stability in Southeast Europe,” Tadic said in a public statement.

EU leaders could decide as early as next week to make Serbia an official candidate for membership.

“We are happy that one of the big problems has been removed,” said Serbia’s chief negotiator, Borko Stefanovic. “This … allows Serbia as well to proudly stand in front of the European Union with a record that is fully met.”

But former Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Serbia, said that Serbia had been “humiliated” in the talks. “The separatists will at regional assemblies be represented by a footnote, which, apart from the UN Resolution 1244, also mentions the opinion of the International Court of Justice, according to which the independence of Kosovo is not a violation of international law,” Kostunica said.

Predrag Simic, professor at the Belgrade Faculty of Political Sciences, told SETimes that the deal in Brussels was a compromise that “may be tough for Belgrade, but will enable the country’s further European integration”.

“It may be difficult to compromise with regard to such important issues, but the agreement in Brussels has prevented Serbia’s international isolation,” Simic said.

He added that Serbia is now “on the verge of becoming an EU membership candidate”, which will be very important for the ruling coalition led by Tadic in the face of coming elections.

Aleksandar Mitic, director of the Kosovo Compromise project, agreed but said that the agreement was detrimental to Serbia and the Kosovo Serbs. “I think that this agreement is a serious step towards the recognition of Kosovo’s independence. The Albanians need not regret anything, because they essentially don’t lose anything with that kind of phrasing in the footnote, and get a ticket to broader international visibility,” Mitic told SETimes.

The agreement did not sit well with the representatives of Serbs from northern Kosovo either. Mitrovica Mayor Krstimir Pantic said that the agreements were “harmful and unconstitutional” and that the Serbs in the north were “upset” by their signing.

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Joint statement of High Representative/Vice President Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle on the agreements reached in the latest round of Belgrade-Pristina dialogue

We welcome the agreements reached today on regional cooperation and on the implementation of the integrated management for crossing points (IBM). These agreements are a major step forward. They are important not just for Serbia and Kosovo but for the stability of the region and thus for the EU.

All EU Member States have given their support to the UN General Assembly resolution of September 2010 launching the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. The objective of this dialogue is to help both parties achieve progress on their path to Europe.

In this context, High Representative/Vice President Ashton stated that “I want to congratulate both parties on these two substantial agreements. One puts into operational form the agreement on integrated management of crossing points. The other consolidates regional cooperation and ensures that everyone is properly represented. Both are further steps along the European path.”

As regards Serbia, these agreements on regional cooperation and IBM are particularly welcome in view of the deliberations in the Council next week regarding candidate status for Serbia.

As regards Kosovo, this is important as it makes Kosovo a full participant in its own right in regional meetings and events and will allow for further progress to contractual relations with the EU. Kosovo will thus follow the same European course as all others in the Western Balkans, in line with its European perspective. In this light, the Commission proposes to launch a feasibility study for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Kosovo and the EU.

Commissioner Füle underlined that “The deal demonstrates a commitment on both sides to their common European future. Today’s agreement also reinforces regional cooperation, good neighbourly relations and the Enlargement agenda in the Western Balkans region”.

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Agreements Reached Between Kosovo and Serbia

Kosovo and Serbia have taken another important step toward their common European future by coming to agreements in the EU-facilitated Dialogue on Kosovo’s representation at regional fora and a technical protocol on Integrated Border Management. I want to thank the European Union for facilitating these discussions and helping these two countries realize a brighter future.

This is an important step for Kosovo. These agreements are consistent with Kosovo’s independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, and move Kosovo closer toward full European integration, which the United States continues to support. Kosovo will now sit at the table in regional fora as an equal partner, representing and speaking for itself.

We also hope these agreements will open the door to Serbia’s EU candidacy. Serbia’s progress toward European integration is good for Serbia, good for Kosovo, and good for the future of the entire region. We look forward to the continuation of the EU-facilitated Dialogue on other issues that impact the daily lives of the citizens of both countries.

The United States shares a strong and enduring friendship with Kosovo and Serbia. We have supported this process from the beginning, and we recognize the commitment and the difficult decisions that have been necessary in order to make progress. I want to commend both governments for their flexibility and hard work in this Dialogue. I encourage the people of both Kosovo and Serbia to implement these agreements in good faith and to support the progress that has been made. Only through dialogue and enhanced trust can both countries be assured of a peaceful, prosperous future as part of a Europe whole, free, and at peace.

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

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Turkey And Serbia Look To Boost Trade

Momentumu yakalayan Türkiye ve Sırbistan ticari ilişkileri ilerletiyor

By Erisa Dautaj Şenerdem

With European economies stagnating, one bright spot in Serbia’s economic relations has been with Turkey, where near 8% economic growth and a large domestic market helped boost Serbian exports by 95% — from $109.5m in 2010 to $213m in 2011. “Economic relations between Serbia and Turkey are currently at their peak,” Aleksandar Medjedovic, the head of the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board’s (DEİK) Turkey-Serbia business council, told SETimes.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s exports to Serbia increased 16% — from $306.4m in 2010 to $355m — last year, according to data by the Turkish Ministry of Economy. “Looking at the figures, we can say that the free trade area agreement between Turkey and Serbia, which entered into force in September 1st 2010, has worked in favour of Serbia,” Erhan Türbedar, a foreign trade policy analyst at the Turkey Economic Policies Research Foundation (TEPAV), told SETimes . According to statistics from Serbia’s Chamber of Commerce, the country’s exports to Turkey have mostly increased in the textile, metallurgy, food, automotive and agriculture sectors, Türbedar added.

The Turkish market, with its large size and purchasing power, is a strong partner with high sales potential, according to Medjedovic. “At the same time, Serbian companies see that they can reach third markets like Iran, Iraq and the Turkic Republics easier through Turkish partners,” he said. “Apart from the traditional areas of goods and services being exported and imported, we note a considerable interest of Turkish construction companies to engage in infrastructure projects in Serbia,” Medjedovic said.

Since one of Turkey’s greatest strengths is in the contracting businesses, road construction and airport development projects are of notable interest, he said. There is also a significant increase in Turkish business plans to locate production facilities in Serbia. “It seems that the Turkish industrialists have discovered Serbia as an attractive production location,” Medjedovic said. However, a DEİK report on Serbia notes that bilateral trade is below its real potential, with goods made in Turkey counting for only 2% of Serbia’s market. It also concluded that “compared to Turkey’s investments in other Balkan countries, Turkish businessmen do not wish to, or hesitate to, invest in Serbia.”

“Turkish people are not fully aware of Serbia and its potential,” Filip Sanovic, economic counselor at Serbia’s Consulate General in Istanbul, told SETimes . He noted, however, that there have been several Turkish investments in the past months, and more business people are going to Serbia to launch businesses.

The free trade agreement between Serbia and the Russian Federation, which includes a customs union with Belarus and Kazakhstan, allows for 99% of all goods to be exported from Serbia to Russia without any custom duties. This, as well as Serbia’s membership in the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) with the Balkan countries, should attract Turkish businessmen, he added. The visa regime between Serbia and Turkey was abolished on September 2010. With this move, Medjedovic said, the last barrier for trade was removed.

“Informing people is of key importance for this issue. Fairs, business forums, [business-to-business] meetings, organised visits, can help a lot in this regard,” Sanovic said. But relations were not always on such a high note. When Turkey was one of the first countries to recognise the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo — a former Serbian province — the friendship between the two countries cooled.

Türbedar said, however, things have recovered in the past couple of years, with a record-high number of official visits — accompanied by business delegations — between the two countries.“Ankara considers Serbia as the key country for peace and stability in the Balkans. Meanwhile, from Serbia’s point of view, it is understood that Belgrade is recently interested in Turkish capital for the development of certain infrastructure projects,” he said.

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