Jump to content

Kosovo and Serbia economic normalization agreements

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 62.37.203.57 (talk) at 14:23, 5 September 2020 (→Agreement). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

2020 Kosovo–Serbia agreement
Signed4 September 2020 (2020-09-04)
LocationWhite House, Washington, D.C., United States of America
Signatories
Parties
LanguageEnglish

The 2020 Kosovo–Serbia agreement is an agreement for the normalisation of economic relations between the Republic of Kosovo[a] and the Republic of Serbia signed at the White House in Washington D.C., in the presence of US President Donald Trump on 4 September 2020.[1]

Background

See also: Belgrade–Pristina negotiations

The agreement was signed following two days of negotiations in Washington D.C. between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti.[2] The summit was organized by the Special Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations Richard Grenell, who along with Robert C. O'Brien cohosted the talks.[2][3] The signing ceremony took place in the Oval Office at the White House in the presence of US President Donald Trump on 4 September 2020.[3]

Agreement

Under the terms of the agreement signed, for a period of one year, Serbia will suspend its efforts encouraging other states to, either, not recognize Kosovo or to revoke recognition. And in return, Kosovo will not apply for new membership of international organizations for the same time period. Nothing in the agreement prevents other states from recognizing the independence of Kosovo during this period, nor does the agreement prevent Kosovo form actively seeking such recognition.[4]

Serbia agreed to move its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv in July 2021, and Israel and Kosovo agreed to mutual International recognition of Kosovo, recognise each other and establish diplomatic relations.[5]

Kosovo and Serbia agreed to conduct a joint feasibility study examining different options for connecting the Belgrade-Pristina rail network with a deep seaport on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.[4] Both countries will commence rail links between them such as between Niš and Pristina and between Pristina and Merdare.[6] They will also operationalize the Merdare administrative crossing point on the border between the two nations.[6]

The agreement also contains provisions where both Serbia and Kosovo designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and support the decriminalization of homosexuality around the world. There are commitments to identify remains from the 1998–99 Kosovo conflict and to rehabilitate refugees from that conflict.[4]

As part of the agreement, Serbia and Kosovo both agreed to join the Mini Schengen Zone.[4]

Each country will recognize the diplomas and professional certificates from the other.[6]

Also, both countries agreed to work with the Export–Import Bank of the United States and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation on the financing of projects and enterprises.[6]

Reactions

  • Kosovo Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti stated that the singing of the agreement was a "great moment for Kosovo and the region".[1]
  • Serbia Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that the agreement "is a huge step forward".[1]
  • United States US President Donald Trump praised the agreement stating that "There was a lot of fighting and now there’s a lot of love. Economics can bring people together."[7]
  • Israel The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, issued a statement welcoming the agreement and wrote that the agreement and stated, "First country with a Muslim majority to open an embassy in Jerusalem. As I have said in recent days, the circle of peace and recognition of Israel is widening and other nations are expected to join it."[8]
  • State of Palestine The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates denounced what was issued by the President of the United States Donald Trump regarding the approval of the governments of Serbia and Kosovo to open embassies in the city of Jerusalem, as it described this step as "A blatant and unjustified aggression against the Palestinian people, their cause, and their just and legitimate national rights."[9]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Template:Kosovo-note

References

  1. ^ a b c "Serbia, Kosovo agreement", CNN, September 4, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Kelly, Laura, Maggie; Chalfant, Morgan (September 4, 2020). "US brokers economic breakthrough for Serbia, Kosovo". The Hill. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Ballhaus, Rebecco; Pancevski, Bojan (September 4, 2020). "Serbia, Kosovo Agree to Normalize Economic Relations". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d Robinson, Jack (September 4, 2020). "Kosovo and Serbia sign 'economic normalisation' agreements". Balkan Insight. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  5. ^ Riechmann, Deb (4 September 2020). "Serbia, Kosovo normalize economic ties, gesture to Israel". Associated Press. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d "Documents signed at the White House cover wider scope than expected". European Western Balkans. September 4, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  7. ^ "Serbia, Kosovo sign economic pact at White House", Hurrıyet daily news.
  8. ^ Landau, Noa (September 4, 2020). "Israel to Recognize Kosovo, Which Will Open Embassy in Jerusalem Along With Serbia". Haaretz. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  9. ^ وزارة الخارجية والمغتربين//دولة فلسطين تدين املاءات ترامب على صربيا وكوسوفو، وموافقتهما بخصوص التطبيع ونقل السفارة للقدس.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Kosovo_and_Serbia_economic_normalization_agreements&oldid=976863430"