"Weak attempt to justify Priština's irrational move"

The Ministry for Kosovo reacted to a statement by a U.S. official, saying that it was a weak attempt at justification of Pristina's yet another irrational move. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Countryman argued onThursday that the Serbian authorities had placed "an embargo on imports from Kosovo more than two years before". "Weak attempt to justify Pristina's irrational move" “It is obvious that we have a serious misrepresentation here, because Belgrade is not the party that tried to change the customs documentation by force and force UNMIK away in 2008 and that has been making similar attempts since. Everyone in the international community is aware of this indisputable fact,” the ministry said in a release. According to this, Belgrade never introduced any embargo on imports of goods from Kosovo and Serbian authorities believe that Pristina's decision to ban the import of goods from central Serbia could have negative consequences on the dialogue and the situation on the ground, and might even cause tensions. “Belgrade has demonstrated that it is willing to solve any problem through dialogue, and moves by Pristina such as this one can only damage the prospects for reaching a solution through talks,” the release says. The Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija and all Serbia's state bodies will remain dedicated to reaching a solution through dialogue only. Kosovo joined the regional free trade organization CEFTA as UNMIK/Kosovo, and has been able to sell goods and services under this arrangement. However, the dispute arose when the Kosovo Albanian authorities in Pristina attempted to accompany the goods with the stamp of the self-proclaimed "state of Kosovo", which Serbia does not recognize. The authorities in Pristina then banned Serbian goods, and introduced a ten-percent tax on those coming from Bosnia-Herzegovina - anther country that does not recognize the UDI or the controversial customs stamps. "Annulment when Belgrade recognizes" Meanwhile in Pristina, Kosovo Albanian PM Hashim Thaci's deputy Hajredin Kuci said that "the Kosovo institutions are ready to unblock the import of Serbian goods to Kosovo the very moment that Belgrade annuls the ban on import of goods from Kosovo". "If the Serbian government adopts a decision to recognize Kosovo customs seals and allow inflow of goods from Kosovo, the Kosovo government will annul its decision on embargo immediately," Kuci said. He said that the decision is not aimed against anybody, especially not against Serb population in Kosovo. "Everyone should be certain that Kosovo would always adopt decisions in keeping with actions coming from Serbia, and here we also imply the positive ones," Kuci said and that "the moment Serbia recognizes Kosovo's seals, Pristina would do the same". He added that Kosovo was "forced to draw such a move since, as he said, Serbia introduced the same measures for Kosovo some three years ago".

"Weak attempt to justify Priština's irrational move"

“It is obvious that we have a serious misrepresentation here, because Belgrade is not the party that tried to change the customs documentation by force and force UNMIK away in 2008 and that has been making similar attempts since. Everyone in the international community is aware of this indisputable fact,” the ministry said in a release.

According to this, Belgrade never introduced any embargo on imports of goods from Kosovo and Serbian authorities believe that Priština's decision to ban the import of goods from central Serbia could have negative consequences on the dialogue and the situation on the ground, and might even cause tensions.

“Belgrade has demonstrated that it is willing to solve any problem through dialogue, and moves by Priština such as this one can only damage the prospects for reaching a solution through talks,” the release says.

The Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija and all Serbia's state bodies will remain dedicated to reaching a solution through dialogue only.

Kosovo joined the regional free trade organization CEFTA as UNMIK/Kosovo, and has been able to sell goods and services under this arrangement. However, the dispute arose when the Kosovo Albanian authorities in Priština attempted to accompany the goods with the stamp of the self-proclaimed "state of Kosovo", which Serbia does not recognize.

The authorities in Priština then banned Serbian goods, and introduced a ten-percent tax on those coming from Bosnia-Herzegovina - anther country that does not recognize the UDI or the controversial customs stamps.

"Annulment when Belgrade recognizes"

Meanwhile in Priština, Kosovo Albanian PM Hashim Thaci's deputy Hajredin Kuci said that "the Kosovo institutions are ready to unblock the import of Serbian goods to Kosovo the very moment that Belgrade annuls the ban on import of goods from Kosovo".

"If the Serbian government adopts a decision to recognize Kosovo customs seals and allow inflow of goods from Kosovo, the Kosovo government will annul its decision on embargo immediately," Kuci said.
He said that the decision is not aimed against anybody, especially not against Serb population in Kosovo.

"Everyone should be certain that Kosovo would always adopt decisions in keeping with actions coming from Serbia, and here we also imply the positive ones," Kuci said and that "the moment Serbia recognizes Kosovo's seals, Priština would do the same".

He added that Kosovo was "forced to draw such a move since, as he said, Serbia introduced the same measures for Kosovo some three years ago".