Serbian President Vucic strongly criticized Dora Bakoyannis, saying Dora Bakoyannis should be ashamed, alleging that she altered her position as the European Parliament’s speaker regarding Kosovo’s accession to the Council of Europe.”I am well aware of who instructed you to abandon your beliefs”
During a speech yesterday, Serbian President Vucic, referenced Bakoyannis’ change in stance, suggesting it occurred after a phone call. According to Vucic, Bakoyannis shifted from her firm position in Kosovo to prioritize the implementation of the “Union of Serbian Municipalities” (ZSO) before the Council of Europe admission.
“Suddenly, she regretted her firm stance. Suddenly, ZSO was not so important, and dispossession was not a priority. I know precisely who instructed you to forsake your principles and act in this manner. Shame on you,” Vucic remarked about Bakoyannis.
Vucic emphasized that the “Union of Serbian Municipalities” (ZSO) is not solely an internal matter for Pristina but an international obligation.
What is the Union of Serbian Municipalities?
The ZSO is a planned self-governing association of municipalities with a majority Serbian population in Kosovo. The proposal for this union stemmed from the 2013 Brussels Agreement signed by the governments of Kosovo and Serbia.
According to the competencies outlined in the European Charter of Local Self-Government and Kosovo law, participating municipalities would have the right to collaborate in exercising their competencies collectively through this association. The ZSO would have jurisdiction over areas such as economic development, education, health, and urban and rural planning.
Originally expected to be formally established under Kosovo’s legal framework in 2015, its creation was indefinitely postponed due to conflicts regarding the extent of its powers.
