Kosovo to "ban imports from Serbia"

Kosovo Albanian institutions will impose a ban on the import of goods from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina starting Jan. 1. This it was announced in Pristina on Friday, comes in response to a decision of authorities in Belgrade and Sarajevo to ban the import and transport of goods that are marked with Kosovo instead of UNMIK Customs stamps. Kosovo to "ban imports from Serbia" Head of the Foreign Trade Department at the Kosovo Chamber of Economy Safet Grcaliu told reporters that the decision was "final and supported by most consumers in Kosovo". Grcaliu said that Kosovo institutions had taken such a measure "for reasons of reciprocity" and that they were forced to react after the decision of Belgrade and Sarajevo. "We are surprised by one thing - how can such a market and potential as Kosovo be lost because of political stands in Belgrade. This year alone goods worth more than EUR 253mn were imported from Serbia. When we add to it [Kosovska] Mitrovica and everything that entered illegally I think that the import exceeds EUR 500mn," Grcaliu said. He said that the measures would be implemented rom January 1 at the latest. "We will implement the measures gradually, in three or four stages. We have to be careful because some businessmen from Kosovo have good cooperation with tradesmen and producers from Serbia and we cannot ban this all ad hoc," Grcaliu said. He added that such movements brought into question the CEFTA agreements signed among the South-East European countries. "In the case of Kosovo and Serbia and Kosovo and Bosnia CEFTA no longer exists and if it does it is high time to do something to remove or solve the barriers, because they are not leading anywhere," Grcaliu said. In Belgrade, Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) chairman Milos Bugarin says that there is no boycott of goods arriving from Kosovo, but that those goods come in "small amounts". He also reminded that any ban on Serbian goods sold in Kosovo would be a direct violation of the regional free trade agreement CEFTA. "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. "I am not overly concerned, since it is up to those who monitors this – the CEFTA Forum and the WTO – to take notice and say, gentlemen, that is not allowed," Bugarin concluded.

Kosovo to "ban imports from Serbia"

Head of the Foreign Trade Department at the Kosovo Chamber of Economy Safet Grcaliu told reporters that the decision was "final and supported by most consumers in Kosovo".

Grcaliu said that Kosovo institutions had taken such a measure "for reasons of reciprocity" and that they were forced to react after the decision of Belgrade and Sarajevo.

"We are surprised by one thing - how can such a market and potential as Kosovo be lost because of political stands in Belgrade. This year alone goods worth more than EUR 253mn were imported from Serbia. When we add to it [Kosovska] Mitrovica and everything that entered illegally I think that the import exceeds EUR 500mn," Grcaliu said.

He said that the measures would be implemented rom January 1 at the latest.

"We will implement the measures gradually, in three or four stages. We have to be careful because some businessmen from Kosovo have good cooperation with tradesmen and producers from Serbia and we cannot ban this all ad hoc," Grcaliu said.

He added that such movements brought into question the CEFTA agreements signed among the South-East European countries.

"In the case of Kosovo and Serbia and Kosovo and Bosnia CEFTA no longer exists and if it does it is high time to do something to remove or solve the barriers, because they are not leading anywhere," Grcaliu said.

In Belgrade, Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) chairman Miloš Bugarin says that there is no boycott of goods arriving from Kosovo, but that those goods come in "small amounts".

He also reminded that any ban on Serbian goods sold in Kosovo would be a direct violation of the regional free trade agreement CEFTA.

"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.

"I am not overly concerned, since it is up to those who monitors this – the CEFTA Forum and the WTO – to take notice and say, gentlemen, that is not allowed," Bugarin concluded.