Ban: Establishment of community of municipalities crucial

Ban: Establishment of community of municipalities crucial

"The spirit of constructive cooperation and the emphasis on common interests remain encouraging, and the agreement on the integration of the judiciary in northern Kosovo, reached on 9 February, demonstrates the commitment of both sides to the implementation of the First Agreement of Principles Governing the Normalization of Relations of 19 April 2013 and to the continuation of the dialogue," Ban noted in a regular quarterly report, published on the UN website.

"Both Belgrade and Pristina should take all necessary steps to faithfully implement the entirety of the agreements reached thus far," he noted.

"It is crucial that both Belgrade and Pristina move forward in the implementation of the outstanding provisions of the Agreement of 19 April 2013. The core issue in this respect remains the establishment of the association/community of Serb municipalities," he wrote in the report.

Among the priorities listed is the issue of participation of Kosovo Serbs in the Kosovo government and assembly and establishment of a special court.