Bosnia-Herzegovina to report Priština to CEFTA

The government in Pristina this week introduced a ten-percent tax on goods coming from Bosnia-Herzegovina, prompting this country to react. Sarajevo said it would file a complaint with the regional free trade organization CEFTA. Bosnia-Herzegovina to report Pristina to CEFTA The UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, joined CEFTA on behalf of Kosovo, and the territory can sell its goods to Serbia and Bosnia under this arrangement. But the problem occurred when the Kosovo Albanian authorities attempted to stamp the documents accompanying the goods with the stamp of Kosovo. Serbia and Bosnia do not recognize the unilateral declaration of independence, and therefore cannot accept the Kosovo customs stamps. Now Pristina announced a ban on Serbian goods, and introduced the tax on those coming from Bosnia. Bosnian Trade and Economic Relations Minister Mladen Zirojevic told Banja Luka-based Glas Srpske daily that this move directly violated the CEFTA agreement. "Bosnia-Herzegovina has not recognized Kosovo, therefore the stamps or their customs service also cannot be recognized by Bosnia-Herzegovina," Zirojevic explained. He also noted that it was UNMIK, rather that the government of Kosovo, who signed the CEFTA membership, and that therefore Sarajevo was fully within its right to reject the stamps. The Bosnian ministry said that they were yet to receive official confirmation that the tax had been introduced, and that they would report it to the CEFTA secretariat once they did. They also urged the Kosovo Albanian authorities in Pristina to "annul their decision as soon as possible", because it violates the free trade agreement.

Bosnia-Herzegovina to report Priština to CEFTA

The UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, joined CEFTA on behalf of Kosovo, and the territory can sell its goods to Serbia and Bosnia under this arrangement.

But the problem occurred when the Kosovo Albanian authorities attempted to stamp the documents accompanying the goods with the stamp of Kosovo.

Serbia and Bosnia do not recognize the unilateral declaration of independence, and therefore cannot accept the Kosovo customs stamps.

Now Priština announced a ban on Serbian goods, and introduced the tax on those coming from Bosnia.

Bosnian Trade and Economic Relations Minister Mladen Zirojević told Banja Luka-based Glas Srpske daily that this move directly violated the CEFTA agreement.

"Bosnia-Herzegovina has not recognized Kosovo, therefore the stamps or their customs service also cannot be recognized by Bosnia-Herzegovina," Zirojević explained.

He also noted that it was UNMIK, rather that the government of Kosovo, who signed the CEFTA membership, and that therefore Sarajevo was fully within its right to reject the stamps.

The Bosnian ministry said that they were yet to receive official confirmation that the tax had been introduced, and that they would report it to the CEFTA secretariat once they did.

They also urged the Kosovo Albanian authorities in Priština to "annul their decision as soon as possible", because it violates the free trade agreement.