EU proposes Serbia-Kosovo "normalisation"

(RT) ⸻ The European Union published the text of the Franco-German proposal for a "path to normalization" of relations between Serbia and its breakaway province of Kosovo on Monday. President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Albin Kurti agreed that no further discussions are needed on the EU proposal, but more work is needed. Vucic insisted on having Kurti first carry out an obligation Pristina undertook 10 years ago, and Borrell said another meeting will take place on March 18 and the European Council will discuss the situation on March 23-24. These dates coincide with the start of NATO's bombing campaign against Serbia in 1999. The EU has insisted on Serbia recognizing Kosovo's independence as a precondition for joining the bloc, even though five member countries have yet to do so. French and German diplomats presented the proposal to Belgrade and Pristina last month, but it had not been made public until now. According to the text published by the EU's External Action Service, Serbia and Kosovo would "develop normal, good-neighborly relations with each other on the basis of equal rights," which would include exchanging "Permanent Missions" and mutually recognizing each other's "respective documents and national symbols". The EU also claimed the dialogue will be guided by the aims and principles laid down in the UN Charter, especially those of sovereign equality of all States, respect for their independence, autonomy and territorial integrity, the right of self-determination, the protection of human rights, and non-discrimination.