"Dialogue continuation brings opening of Chapter 35"

"Dialogue continuation brings opening of Chapter 35"

"After one or two rounds of the dialogue on normalization of the relations with Pristina, which will be held at the highest political level, I expect that Chapter 35 on Kosovo will be opened, and this will include monitoring of everything that was agreed in Brussels," Miscevic told the Belgrade-based TV Pink.

The implementation of the Brussels agreement we reached in April 2013 is actually a proof of credibility, a confirmation that we can implement what we agree on, said Miscevic.

She noted that this agreement was the basis for the agreements on the police, judiciary, and integrated management of the administrative line between Serbia proper and its southern province of Kosovo.

The ultimate goal of the EU-brokered dialogue in Brussels is full normalization of the relations between Belgrade and Pristina, said Miscevic.

However, the agreement on stabilization and association did not define the meaning of comprehensive normalization, she said, adding that this should be explained in the continuation of the dialogue in Brussels.

Miscevic also said that drafting of action plans is underway for Chapter 23 (Justice and Human Rights) and Chapter 24 (Justice, Freedom and Security), which should be fully accepted in the first half of this year.

"At the same time, we are working on opening a few more chapters," said Miscevic.

Dialogue resumes in February

Jadranka Joksimovic, the Serbian minister in charge of European integration, said on Sunday the Belgrade-Pristina political dialog would resume early in February.

According to her, the opening of chapters in EU membership talks would follow.

Jovanovic said picking up the Belgrade-Pristina dialog was very important as any doubts about the implementation of the Brussels deal would finally be settled, the Beta agency reported.

"Chapter 35, on the implementation of the Brussels agreement, was in a way a kind of political condition to open that chapter as one of the first, in the early stages of the negotiations," she said.

According to her, "the Brussels agreement reflects the reality that the EU has understood and accepted the fact that Serbia has not recognized an independent Kosovo, just like we (Serbia) must accept the fact that numerous states have recognized it."

Joksimovic said the Brussels deal had been the best possible solution, adding that carrying it out was obligatory to Pristina too.