Belgrade welcomes the “easing of long-standing tension” due to Kurti’s “irresponsible” policy
Oct. 8 () –
The Government of Kosovo confirmed this Monday the reopening of one of the main border crossings to Serbian merchandise, almost a year and a half after stopping imports to prevent what it said could be hidden shipments of weapons for Serbian separatists and after repeated pressures from the European Union and the United States.
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, explained in a press conference that this measure, modified by the Ministry of the Interior, will be applied for the moment only at the Merdar border crossing, where the transport of goods will be carefully controlled. Once effective scanners are available for vehicle inspection, other steps will open up, as reported by the KosovaPress news agency.
Kurti has added that this measure “is sufficient for the processes that are coming in the coming days”, in reference to the alleged threats from Germany in order not to allow their participation in the summit of the Berlin Process that will be held this Monday comes (October 14) in the German capital if the veto is not lifted.
The Prime Minister of Serbia, Milos Vucevic, has stated that with this decision Pristina “has relieved the tension that has existed for a long time” due to Kurti’s “irresponsible” policy. He has also stressed that “the most important thing” is that the supply of food and medicine is orderly and has emphasized that he is interested in reaching agreements that “improve the living conditions of Serbs,” according to Serbian state radio television RTS.
In June 2023, Kosovo ordered the closure of borders to goods and trucks coming from Serbia, claiming that the measure was in protest against the alleged kidnapping of three police officers by Serbian security forces. Subsequently, the Government relaxed the security measure for raw materials and other products.
The EU has been acting as a mediator between the parties for a decade to try to normalize their relations, broken since the independence declared by Kosovo unilaterally in 2008 and recognized by the United States and the majority of EU member states.
The European strategy, after years without progress in the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, is for the parties to address pending issues and focus on compliance with the agreements agreed upon but never put into action. The latest meetings in Brussels have always been marked by tensions caused by different crises.
Add Comment