Serbia will request CEFTA response - minister

Serbia will request reaction from the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) to Pristina's decision to ban import of goods from central Serbia. This is according to Serbian Minister of Trade and Agriculture Dusan Petrovic, who spoke late on Thursday. Serbia will request CEFTA response - minister Pointing out that the introduction of the embargo represents a serious violation of a very important international trade agreement, Petrovic added that Serbia will request a clear and suitable diplomatic action from the EU as well. Recalling that the Ministry of Economy has already protested over the violation of the CEFTA agreement, whose signatories are the state of Serbia and UNMIK, Petrovic announced Serbia's diplomatic action. He told the B92 TV that Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic was in that respect "assigned a task by the prime minister," and stressed that Serbia will use every opportunity allowed by the international agreements, but will not do anything that would make the situation more difficult. Petrovic told Serb residents in Kosovo and Metohija that the government will do its best to resolve the problem created by the decision of Pristina, which on Thursday imposed embargo on import of goods from central Serbia. He categorically dismissed Pristina's claims that Serbia is violating the CEFTA agreement by not accepting goods from Kosovo and Metohija. Serbia strictly adheres to the CEFTA agreement and requests from others to do the same, Petrovic said, reiterating that the agreement "clearly states that UNMIK's seal is the one that counts, rather than the seal of the Kosovo customs office". "What Pristina requests is some modification of the existing situation," Petrovic said, pointing out that talks on technical issues were underway, but that Serbia "will not allow for the solution to any technical issue to prejudge the status of the province". Dusan Petrovic (Tanjug, file)

Serbia will request CEFTA response - minister

Pointing out that the introduction of the embargo represents a serious violation of a very important international trade agreement, Petrović added that Serbia will request a clear and suitable diplomatic action from the EU as well.

Recalling that the Ministry of Economy has already protested over the violation of the CEFTA agreement, whose signatories are the state of Serbia and UNMIK, Petrović announced Serbia's diplomatic action.

He told the B92 TV that Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić was in that respect "assigned a task by the prime minister," and stressed that Serbia will use every opportunity allowed by the international agreements, but will not do anything that would make the situation more difficult.

Petrović told Serb residents in Kosovo and Metohija that the government will do its best to resolve the problem created by the decision of Priština, which on Thursday imposed embargo on import of goods from central Serbia.

He categorically dismissed Priština's claims that Serbia is violating the CEFTA agreement by not accepting goods from Kosovo and Metohija.

Serbia strictly adheres to the CEFTA agreement and requests from others to do the same, Petrović said, reiterating that the agreement "clearly states that UNMIK's seal is the one that counts, rather than the seal of the Kosovo customs office".

"What Priština requests is some modification of the existing situation," Petrović said, pointing out that talks on technical issues were underway, but that Serbia "will not allow for the solution to any technical issue to prejudge the status of the province".