The French Ambassador to Kosovo, Olivier Guerot, in an interview for KosovaPress said that the Brussels Basic Agreement and the Ohrid Annex reached between Kosovo and Serbia are historic. According to him, the agreement reached in 2023, with the mediation of the European Union, is legally binding and brings concrete things for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. He says that this agreement for Kosovo brings recognition of territorial integrity, therefore, as the French diplomat emphasizes, it is in Kosovo’s own interest that the agreement be implemented.
Guerot said for KosovaPress that France’s support for an independent and sovereign Kosovo has not changed, and is there as never before.
In addition, the French Ambassador asks the Government of Kosovo to send the European Union’s proposal for the draft statute of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities to the Constitutional Court. He says that this draft statute for the Association is the best and only option on the table.
According to him, the EU considers that this proposal is fully in line with the Constitution of Kosovo, but as he said, the best test is to send it to the Constitutional Court and then for this institution to show to what extent this document is in line with the Constitution. Sending the draft statute to the Constitutional Court, the French ambassador says, is also a condition for Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe.
The French ambassador, when asked about the risks that this document could create a third executive power or autonomy for the Serbian community, states that sending the draft statute of the Association to the Constitutional Court is an excellent indicator that will respond to all possible fears.
He says that France but also the Western allies were decisive for the liberation of Kosovo in 1999 and the recognition of Kosovo’s independence in 2008. Therefore, as he says, there should be no fear of any action on their part that would have a detrimental impact on Kosovo.
On the other hand, Ambassador Guerot says that they support Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe, but adds that the condition for this is sending the draft statute of the Association to the Constitutional Court.
Asked about Serbia’s destructiveness in the dialogue process, he says that it is important that both countries take positive steps towards the implementation of the obligations in the dialogue.
According to him, the encouragement of the Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic for the reintegration of the Serbian community into institutions in Kosovo is positive.
