(21 Oct 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pristina, Kosovo - 21 October 2023
1. Wide of Kosovo Government Building
2. Various of EU envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, together with the American envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, and senior officials from France, Emanuel Bonne; Germany, Jens Plotner; and Italy, Francesco Talo arriving
3. Various of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti meeting the delegation
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Miroslav Lajcak, the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue:
"We carefully listened to Prime Minister Kurti views and also his concerns vis-a-vis the security situation in the north of Kosovo. And here I want to say that the terrorist attack against Kosovo police by armed individuals constitutes a clear and unprecedented escalation. We expressed our condolences to the prime minister, and we strongly condemned the attack of the 24th of September. We made it very clear that all perpetrators must be brought to justice, and we expect Serbia's full cooperation and concrete action in this regard.”
5. Media
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Miroslav Lajcak, the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue:
"The events of the 24th of September also very clearly underlined that both de-escalation and normalization are now more urgent than ever. Any conditions or delays are unacceptable, and we also expect Kosovo and Serbia to fully meet their dialogue obligations. And the events of the 24th of September do not change this and neither do they change the fact that Kosovo and Serbia entered into an agreement on the path to normalization earlier this year. As the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Prime Minister Kurti has a responsibility to make progress on normalization of relations if Kosovo wants to make progress towards the European Union and here we have to highlight the need to move on the establishment of the Association of Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo without further delay. Without this, there will be no progress on Kosovo's European path."
7. Lajčák listening to question
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Miroslav Lajcak, the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue:
"We always have a plan. So we do have a plan. We discussed our plans with the Prime Minister Kurti and we will discuss our plan with (Serbian) President (Aleksandar) Vucic later today. So you will understand that I will not go into details at this point. Second, there is no alternative to the dialog because dialog brings normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia and open European passport for Kosovo and Serbia. So the attacks in Banjska on 24 September have changed many things. And I think I was very clear they need to be properly investigated, conclusions must be drawn and perpetrators must face consequences. And at the same time, dialogue must continue. And as a matter of fact, it's more important than ever because if there is no dialogue, there might be a repetition of escalation. And that's not what we want. And I am sure that is not what you want. And that's why we are here and that's why we want to move forward with the process of normalization and implementation of what was agreed in Ohrid."
8. Flag of Kosovo
9. Delegation leaving
STORYLINE:
The EU envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue Miroslav Lajcak on Saturday urged Kosovo and Serbia to return to dialogue after meeting Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
It was Lajcak's first visit to Kosovo's capital Pristina since a September 24 attack in northern Kosovo left one police officer and three attackers dead.
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