Belgrade, 20 March 2023 (MIA) - Following this weekend’s High-Level Meeting of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, held between President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti in Ohrid, North Macedonia, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice-President Michael Georg Link commended the efforts of the European Union and U.S. facilitators of the talks, and welcomed the progress in developing normal, good-neighbourly relations, MIA's Belgrade correspondent reports. 

"This is finally very good news from the high-level talks of the Brussels Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, building from the progress made on 27 February this year, where the sides agreed on the so-called German-French plan, which is supported by all EU Member States. The news from Ohrid in North Macedonia, where the latest round of talks on 18 March were held – for the first time outside of Brussels – is an important step in the right direction, insofar that the sides agreed on the annex to the German-French plan," Link said, as cited in OSCE press release.

"By agreeing to the German-French plan on 27 February and its annex on 18 March, President of Serbia and Prime Minister of Kosovo, Aleksandar Vučić and Albin Kurti, showed the maturity of their political leadership and we strongly support them on the implementation of the agreement that was reached under the tireless European Union facilitators. We are all aware that peace has no alternative," Link added.

He called on  both sides to work hard on implementing the agreement. According to him, its implementation can ease the free movement of people and goods which is fundamental for the region.

Link expressed his belief that genuine readiness for compromise is inevitable.

"The progress on the European path for both Parties depends on a comprehensive agreement on normalization of the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which will create new opportunities and improve the lives of their citizens," said Link. 

A normalization agreement between the Parties is beneficial also to the security, stability and prosperity of the whole region, he noted. 

Vice-President Link added that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly stands ready to offer its support in this process wherever and whenever needed.