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Kosovo and Serbia have reached an agreement on the issue of missing persons during the war in Kosovo in 1998-1999. The agreement was reached in the framework of the EU-facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, and the signing ceremony was held on May 6, 2023, in Brussels, local media say.say.
The agreement includes the establishment of a joint working group, composed of representatives of both countries, to exchange information and locate the missing persons. The group will be supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other international organizations.
In a joint statement, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, the President of Serbia, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, welcomed the agreement and emphasized the importance of addressing the issue of missing persons as a humanitarian issue.
The agreement on the missing persons is seen as a positive development in the EU-facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which aims to normalize their relations and resolve outstanding issues. The dialogue has been ongoing since 2011, and has resulted in several agreements, including the 2013 Brussels Agreement on the normalization of relations.
The issue of missing persons has been a sensitive and emotional one for both Kosovo and Serbia, with thousands of people still unaccounted for. The agreement is seen as a step forward in addressing the suffering of the families of the missing, and in promoting reconciliation between Kosovo and Serbia.