European Forum

Belgrade and Pristina reach deal over border

Serbia and Kosovo reached an agreement on border crossing checks late last Friday evening the 2nd of December in Brussels. The agreement is to end a long-running dispute between Belgrade and Pristina that has led to violence on various occasions. The Integrated Border Management (IBM) agreement is interpreted differently by both sides.

Serbian President Boris Tadic said that “A functional compromise solution has been found that can be sustained, which conforms with Serbia's national interests and its constitution.” Because Serbia does not recognize Kosovo as an independent state but sees rather as a Serbian province, the IBM does not allow Kosovo to display state symbols and flags on the frontier. Furthermore, chief negotiator for Serbia Borislav Stefanovic said the words "border crossing" did not exist in the agreement and that a footnote explained that while Kosovo sees the "line" as a border, Serbia sees it as an "administrative line".

Head of the Kosovo negotiation team Edita Tahiri explains the agreement as a de facto recognition of Kosovar independence by Serbia, as the agreement states that laws of both sides will be implemented at border crossings: Serbian laws on the Serbian side, and Kosovo laws on the Kosovo side. She further added that “Serbia is far from showing good will to implement the agreement that we have reached on IBM... but for us Serbia’s signature on the protocol represents a recognition of Kosovo’s border," she said. "[This is] because IBM can only be implemented between states.”

Under IBM agreements, border checks are being carried out by officials from both sides that are stationed under one roof. However, dispute has already arisen over whether Kosovo will be represented by Kosovar border police or by EULEX-representatives. Kosovo says that EULEX will only monitor the implementation of the agreement, while Serbia maintains that EULEX will control the south of the border on behalf of Kosovo.

Germany had upped the pressure on Belgrade to come to a swift conclusion before the Euro-Summit next Friday after two German peacekeepers were wounded in clashes with Kosovar Serbs earlier last week. Merkel said that “At the moment Serbia does not meet the conditions of the EU accession process.” Serbia hopes to make progress towards EU membership at the EU summit this week.
 
Sources: B92, Balkan-Insight, Balkan-Insight, Tanjug, Image.