The American Ambassador in Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, after the discussions in the Embassy on the issue of the Association, has repeated the call to implement all agreements within the dialogue with Serbia.
"Today we held a hearing for the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority. Grateful to the various actors present, for sharing their views and expertise. We continue to advocate for the implementation of all dialogue commitments," Hovenier wrote on Twitter.
The Embassy on Tuesday held a meeting with government representatives, political leaders and civil society for the Association. The discussion has been closed. Under the Chatham House rule, attendees are free to use information from the discussion, but are not allowed to find out who made what particular comment. As a discussion rule it has been around since 1927. It is mainly used for discussions on controversial issues. It got its name from the Royal Institute of International Relations of the United Kingdom.
A day before the discussion, Derek Chollet, adviser to the US Department of State, and Gabriel Escobar, the US special envoy for the Western Balkans, in an exclusive column for TIME, said that the Association does not mean a new layer of executive power and legislative.
Likewise, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Pristina has presented a draft statute for the "Association of Municipalities in which the Kosovo Serb community is the majority", drawn up by this organization in partnership with the European Institute for Peace (EIP).
also
Hovenier advises EU envoy for dialogue: Don't negotiate new commitments
This draft statute proposed by FES states that the Association will be a legal entity established in accordance with the Constitution and the legal system of Kosovo. It is emphasized that the Association/Community will have its own official symbols, including the coat of arms and the flag, which will be designed by the Board of the Association/Community in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo and the Law on Local Government.
-
Hovenier: The government moves money with the Association
-
Hovenier says the Association will comply with the Constitution, Hill expects progress in the dialogue
-
Hovenier: The association must be in accordance with the Constitution of Kosovo
-
Hovenier: The association must be in accordance with the current Constitution