[JURIST] Serbia and Kosovo signed agreements Tuesday in several key areas, taking a major step towards reconciling ties since the 1990s war. The agreement areas include energy, telecoms, establishment of the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities as well as the Freedom of Movement/Mitrovica Bridge. The Prime Ministers agreed on the arrangement for the bridge, something that will “define the use of the bridge in a mutually acceptable way.” Following the meeting, EU High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini remarked [press release], “[t]oday’s outcome represents landmark achievements in the normalization process … enabl[ing] the two sides to advance on their European path.”
Tensions have remained high between the two nations since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, partly due to Serbia’s refusal to recognize Kosovo as an independent nation. Last year EU Kosovo officials arrested six Serbian officials [JURIST report] in Kosovo, alleging that they were “suspected of exerting undue pressure … not to recognize Kosovo institutions.” In 2010 Serbia’s parliament passed a resolution [JURIST report] stating that it would never recognize Kosovo as an independent nation. This resolution was passed days after the International Court of Justice [official website] ruled that Kosovo’s declaration of independence did not violate international law [JURIST report]. The day after Kosovo signed its declaration in 2008, the US and EU member states all recognized Kosovo [JURIST report] as an independent country. In 2007, however, Serbia’s parliament officially rejected Kosovo’s plan [JURIST report] for autonomy.