Tirana "to help Kosovo over imports"

Albania will provide enough food for Kosovo's needs if the government in Pristina is "forced to block imports from Serbia and Bosnia", officials announced. This was said after two days of meetings of Tirana's and Kosovo's chambers of commerce. The Albanian officials accompanied that country's president Bamir Topi on a visit to Kosovo. Tirana "to help Kosovo over imports" "The Tirana Chamber of Commerce representatives are expressing unconditional readiness to support Kosovo in all the economic processes so that the effects that could occur with the possible embargo of goods from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina would not be felt," Djok Uledaj was quoted as saying. Another topic of conversation, Kosovo Chamber of Commerce head Besim Becaj revealed, was "the need to prepare communities of entrepreneurs in Kosovo for the situation that will come after the main artery that connects Kosovo with Albania, the Durres-Morino-Merdare highway has been finished." According to Becaj, this will enable for more entrepreneurs and business to take part in the Albanian market, and for more Albanian products to arrive in Kosovo. The meeting also appraised that Kosovo is facing a challenge in finding ways to "ensure reciprocity in implementing CEFTA agreement's provisions". "It has been appraised that Serbia's and Bosnia's behavior, who are not recognizing the official documents of the republic of Kosovo, will force Kosovo officials to undertake reciprocal measures, that is, block imports from these countries," Becaj said. Belgrade and Sarajevo banned import and transit of goods from Kosovo that come with a Kosovo customs stamp instead of that of UNMIK. Kosovo Albanian government first warned it would retaliate with a ban of its own starting Jan. 1., "unless the dispute was solved in the CEFTA secretariat". In late December, Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) chairman Milos Bugarin said that any ban on Serbian goods sold in Kosovo would be a direct violation of this regional free trade agreement. "UNMIK signed CEFTA on behalf of Kosovo, meaning that this agreement is binding for them too. Therefore, gentlemen of the newly formed Kosovo chamber of commerce cannot do this, because it violates the agreement," said Bugarin at the time.

Tirana "to help Kosovo over imports"

"The Tirana Chamber of Commerce representatives are expressing unconditional readiness to support Kosovo in all the economic processes so that the effects that could occur with the possible embargo of goods from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina would not be felt," Djok Uledaj was quoted as saying.

Another topic of conversation, Kosovo Chamber of Commerce head Besim Becaj revealed, was "the need to prepare communities of entrepreneurs in Kosovo for the situation that will come after the main artery that connects Kosovo with Albania, the Durres-Morino-Merdare highway has been finished."

According to Becaj, this will enable for more entrepreneurs and business to take part in the Albanian market, and for more Albanian products to arrive in Kosovo.

The meeting also appraised that Kosovo is facing a challenge in finding ways to "ensure reciprocity in implementing CEFTA agreement's provisions".

"It has been appraised that Serbia's and Bosnia's behavior, who are not recognizing the official documents of the republic of Kosovo, will force Kosovo officials to undertake reciprocal measures, that is, block imports from these countries," Becaj said.

Belgrade and Sarajevo banned import and transit of goods from Kosovo that come with a Kosovo customs stamp instead of that of UNMIK.

Kosovo Albanian government first warned it would retaliate with a ban of its own starting Jan. 1., "unless the dispute was solved in the CEFTA secretariat".

In late December, Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) chairman Miloš Bugarin said that

any ban on Serbian goods sold in Kosovo would be a direct violation of this regional free trade agreement.

"UNMIK signed CEFTA on behalf of Kosovo, meaning that this agreement is binding for them too. Therefore, gentlemen of the newly formed Kosovo chamber of commerce cannot do this, because it violates the agreement," said Bugarin at the time.