Priština threatens to "reciprocate" over trade

A minister in the Kosovo Albanian government says "import of goods from Serbia will be halted unless Belgrade recognizes the jurisdiction of Kosovo's customs".

Izvor: Tanjug

Sunday, 21.12.2008.

17:18

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A minister in the Kosovo Albanian government says "import of goods from Serbia will be halted unless Belgrade recognizes the jurisdiction of Kosovo's customs". Lufti Zarku, in charge of the ministry for trade, told the Albanian language daily Express on Sunday that unless Belgrade soon lifts its ban on entry and transit of goods coming from Kosovo, Pristina will "reciprocate". Pristina threatens to "reciprocate" over trade "Kosovo is willing to realize the reciprocal obligations related to the CEFTA agreement with Serbia as well, but if Serbia does not wish this, then Kosovo is forced to block her products entering or in transit through Kosovo," he said. Since Dec. 3, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are blocking goods from Kosovo accompanied with documents stamped with "Kosovo customs", instead of a previously used UNMIK stamp. Zarku warns that producers from Kosovo could lose markets in both Serbia and Bosnia due to this move. He also said that his ministry asked CEFTA's secretariat to resolve the problem, but that it is yet to receive an answer. Reacting to this news in Belgrade on Sunday, the opposition Serb Radical Party (SRS) called on the authorities to undertake urgent measures in order to protect Serbia's integrity and her citizens' interests. A party statement reads that the arrival of EULEX in Kosovo in not in the function of preserving Serbia's territorial integrity, nor is it in line with UNSCR 1244, rather that the mission is there "in order to provide physical support for the realization of the Ahtisaari plan". "EULEX, under whose protection the fake institutions of the illegal republic of Kosovo are being established, is only encouraging Albanian separatist to continue to violate international law and resolutions that place Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia," the Radicals say. This party has also called on the government in Belgrade to withdraw its support for the EU mission, which they see as illegal.

Priština threatens to "reciprocate" over trade

"Kosovo is willing to realize the reciprocal obligations related to the CEFTA agreement with Serbia as well, but if Serbia does not wish this, then Kosovo is forced to block her products entering or in transit through Kosovo," he said.

Since Dec. 3, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are blocking goods from Kosovo accompanied with documents stamped with "Kosovo customs", instead of a previously used UNMIK stamp.

Zarku warns that producers from Kosovo could lose markets in both Serbia and Bosnia due to this move.

He also said that his ministry asked CEFTA's secretariat to resolve the problem, but that it is yet to receive an answer.

Reacting to this news in Belgrade on Sunday, the opposition Serb Radical Party (SRS) called on the authorities to undertake urgent measures in order to protect Serbia's integrity and her citizens' interests.

A party statement reads that the arrival of EULEX in Kosovo in not in the function of preserving Serbia's territorial integrity, nor is it in line with UNSCR 1244, rather that the mission is there "in order to provide physical support for the realization of the Ahtisaari plan".

"EULEX, under whose protection the fake institutions of the illegal republic of Kosovo are being established, is only encouraging Albanian separatist to continue to violate international law and resolutions that place Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia," the Radicals say.

This party has also called on the government in Belgrade to withdraw its support for the EU mission, which they see as illegal.

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