Ashton satisfied about results of IBM talks
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressed satisfaction about the results of a Belgrade and Pristina working groups' meeting on the implementation of the agreement on integrated management of the crossings between central Serbia and Kosovo (IBM).
(KosovoCompromiseStuff) Wednesday, December 19, 2012
"High Representative Catherine Ashton is happy with the results of the IBM working group, in which yesterday the two sides reached an understanding on issues related to IBM implementation," Michael Mann, spokesman for Ashton, said in a release Wednesday.
The technical work on these issues will continue on January 10, in preparation for Ashton's meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Dacic and Kosovo Prime Minister Hasim Thaci, which will take place on 17 January, said Mann.
"The High Representative expects that the understanding reached yesterday will allow for the smooth functioning of the two gates opened on 10 December and the opening of two more gates by the end of the year, as agreed by the two Prime Ministers on 4 December," he said.
"The EU also expects that both sides will continue to discuss all outstanding issues, whenever they occur, in the context of the EU-facilitated dialogue for normalisation of relations," Mann said in a statement the link to which he posted on his Twitter account.
In Brussels, late on Tuesday, the Belgrade and Pristina working groups reached an agreement on customs duties procedures at the integrated crossings on the administrative line between Kosovo and central Serbia, which should enter into force on December 20, head of Belgrade's negotiating team Dejan Pavicevic has said.
"Vehicles carrying goods that are not subject to excise tax will be able to enter northern Kosovo without clearance, which also applies to excise goods weighing up to three and a half tons," Pavicevic told the press late on Tuesday, after the marathon talks that began seven days ago.
Pavicevic noted that documentation of the goods transported would be checked, but solely for the sake of statistics.
He added that the agreement would enter into force on Thursday, December 20, at 8 a.m. local time.
Pavicevic stressed that the understanding reached only confirmed the agreement between Dacic and Taci from the latest round of political dialogue in Brussels, which took place on December 7.
He also said that Belgrade's team had taken into account the interests of the Serbs in northern Kosovo, but also the possibility of abuse of free imports. If the other party obstructs the agreement on integrated crossings in any way, we are ready to suspend it, Pavicevic said.
The technical work on these issues will continue on January 10, in preparation for Ashton's meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Dacic and Kosovo Prime Minister Hasim Thaci, which will take place on 17 January, said Mann.
"The High Representative expects that the understanding reached yesterday will allow for the smooth functioning of the two gates opened on 10 December and the opening of two more gates by the end of the year, as agreed by the two Prime Ministers on 4 December," he said.
"The EU also expects that both sides will continue to discuss all outstanding issues, whenever they occur, in the context of the EU-facilitated dialogue for normalisation of relations," Mann said in a statement the link to which he posted on his Twitter account.
In Brussels, late on Tuesday, the Belgrade and Pristina working groups reached an agreement on customs duties procedures at the integrated crossings on the administrative line between Kosovo and central Serbia, which should enter into force on December 20, head of Belgrade's negotiating team Dejan Pavicevic has said.
"Vehicles carrying goods that are not subject to excise tax will be able to enter northern Kosovo without clearance, which also applies to excise goods weighing up to three and a half tons," Pavicevic told the press late on Tuesday, after the marathon talks that began seven days ago.
Pavicevic noted that documentation of the goods transported would be checked, but solely for the sake of statistics.
He added that the agreement would enter into force on Thursday, December 20, at 8 a.m. local time.
Pavicevic stressed that the understanding reached only confirmed the agreement between Dacic and Taci from the latest round of political dialogue in Brussels, which took place on December 7.
He also said that Belgrade's team had taken into account the interests of the Serbs in northern Kosovo, but also the possibility of abuse of free imports. If the other party obstructs the agreement on integrated crossings in any way, we are ready to suspend it, Pavicevic said.
