Serbia could seek intl. arbitration over Kosovo trade

Economy Minister Nebojsa Ciric says the government is committed to resolving the situation after a ban on goods coming from central Serbia to Kosovo. The ban was introduced by the Kosovo Albanian government in Pristina. Serbia could seek intl. arbitration over Kosovo trade Ciric told the Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) that officials of the Economy Ministry had had a meeting with representatives of UNMIK Kosovo, which was also attended by representatives of the Finance Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija. "Their (UNMIK's) idea is that the issue of recognizing, or of not recognizing, the customs stamps should be dealt with within CEFTA mechanisms, rather than in bilateral talks, which was the case until now," Ciric said, adding that the Serbian government will discuss the issue. Ciric said the recent events in northern Kosovo evidently proved that the embargo on goods coming from central Serbia was a politically-motivated decision, rather than an economically-motivated one, recalling that the Serbian government took the stand that it was a flagrant violation of the CEFTA agreement. He confirmed sending a letter to the chairpersons of CEFTA and UNMIK/Kosovo stating a number of articles of the CEFTA agreement that had been violated since July 25. There is a 90-day limit during which it is possible to resolve the issue through mediation, in bilateral talks, Ciric added. After the period expires, Serbia will have the right to initiate an international arbitration to seek compensation or damages, Ciric said. Ciric said that Serbian products now cannot be delivered to northern Kosovo, and Kosovo and Metohija in general, adding that "we annually deliver about 350 million of worth of our products to the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, our southern province." Nebojsa Ciric (Beta, file)

Serbia could seek intl. arbitration over Kosovo trade

Ćirić told the Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) that officials of the Economy Ministry had had a meeting with representatives of UNMIK Kosovo, which was also attended by representatives of the Finance Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija.

"Their (UNMIK's) idea is that the issue of recognizing, or of not recognizing, the customs stamps should be dealt with within CEFTA mechanisms, rather than in bilateral talks, which was the case until now," Ćirić said, adding that the Serbian government will discuss the issue.

Ćirić said the recent events in northern Kosovo evidently proved that the embargo on goods coming from central Serbia was a politically-motivated decision, rather than an economically-motivated one, recalling that the Serbian government took the stand that it was a flagrant violation of the CEFTA agreement.

He confirmed sending a letter to the chairpersons of CEFTA and UNMIK/Kosovo stating a number of articles of the CEFTA agreement that had been violated since July 25. There is a 90-day limit during which it is possible to resolve the issue through mediation, in bilateral talks, Ćirić added.

After the period expires, Serbia will have the right to initiate an international arbitration to seek compensation or damages, Ćirić said.

Ćirić said that Serbian products now cannot be delivered to northern Kosovo, and Kosovo and Metohija in general, adding that "we annually deliver about 350 million of worth of our products to the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, our southern province."