Government in Priština "imposes embargo on itself"

Borislav Stefanovic says the Kosovo government decision to "place embargo on imports from Serbia" meant it was "yielding to public pressure". The head of Belgrade's team in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue said that the Kosovo Albanian authorities "in effect placed embargo on themselves, all with the aim to show they were doing something, but actually to the detriment of its citizens". Government in Pristina "imposes embargo on itself" Stefanovic told Tanjug the embargo was a direct consequence of the not yet resolved issue of Pristina's customs seals, adding that “there is full commitment on our part and on the part of the European Union that it be resolved, but that does not mean that it should be resolved solely in a way Pristina finds appropriate.” "It is a unilateral attempt by Pristina to prejudge the outcome of the dialogue we are engaged in. By this move, Pristina violated the CEFTA agreement and put itself in the unpleasant situation in the international community because the move will not be met with sympathy," Stefanovic said. “We have already addressed the international community regarding the issue, pointing to the unacceptable move, and asked that the decision be repealed as soon as possible," said Stefanovic, expressing the expectation that "with the help of the EU, Serbia would make that happen". He also said that that Pristina's decision would not affect Belgrade's full commitment to find a solution for the movement of goods as early as September, in a way that would see both sides having their demands met. “Pristina has demonstrated its impatience, reacting by way of blackmailing others and thus putting itself in an unfavorable position with respect to the international community. On the other hand, we are willing to find an adequate solution through talks in September,” Stefanovic said. He added that the decision was an attempt to influence the negotiating process, but that the Serbian government would not react to blackmails and would continue to work in line with its Constitution, laws and national interests. Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanovic also reacted on Wednesday to state that by deciding to introduce embargo regarding import of goods from central Serbia, "Pristina clearly and unambiguously demonstrated its stand and attitude toward the dialogue with Belgrade". "By this irrational move, the Kosovo government deprives the dialogue of meaning while at the same time contributing to creation of greater mistrust among Serbs and (ethnic) Albanians," the Ministry for Kosovo-Metohija quoted Bogdanovic as saying. The minister believes that justifications according to which the decision came as a result of failure to achieve an agreement on recognition of Kosovo customs stamps and free trade in fact show that Pristina "does not want to be bothered to close open issues through dialogue and compromise, but would rather achieve this by blackmails and politicization of everything, including even practical problems that plague all citizens in the province". All citizens of Kosovo and Metohija, both Serbs and Albanians, will feel the consequences of this Kosovo government's decision, Bogdanovic said and added that this move would at the same time further aggravate the already catastrophic economic situation in the province. The ministry's state secretary, Oliver Ivanovic, also reacted by saying: "I don't think this decision will take hold. I believe the EU will react quickly. If it does take hold, the price will be paid by Albanians in Kosovo who will buy their favorite products via middlemen, at a higher price." "It's a naive attempt to have Serbia recognize Kosovo as independent, and it won't change the Serb position," he concluded. The government in Pristina made its decision which regards "Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina", Belgrade's decision not to recognize customs seals bearing the symbols of the self-styled "republic of Kosovo". Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence more than three years ago. Serbia rejected the proclamation.

Government in Priština "imposes embargo on itself"

Stefanović told Tanjug the embargo was a direct consequence of the not yet resolved issue of Priština's customs seals, adding that “there is full commitment on our part and on the part of the European Union that it be resolved, but that does not mean that it should be resolved solely in a way Priština finds appropriate.”

"It is a unilateral attempt by Priština to prejudge the outcome of the dialogue we are engaged in. By this move, Priština violated the CEFTA agreement and put itself in the unpleasant situation in the international community because the move will not be met with sympathy," Stefanović said.

“We have already addressed the international community regarding the issue, pointing to the unacceptable move, and asked that the decision be repealed as soon as possible," said Stefanović, expressing the expectation that "with the help of the EU, Serbia would make that happen".

He also said that that Priština's decision would not affect Belgrade's full commitment to find a solution for the movement of goods as early as September, in a way that would see both sides having their demands met.

“Priština has demonstrated its impatience, reacting by way of blackmailing others and thus putting itself in an unfavorable position with respect to the international community. On the other hand, we are willing to find an adequate solution through talks in September,” Stefanović said.

He added that the decision was an attempt to influence the negotiating process, but that the Serbian government would not react to blackmails and would continue to work in line with its Constitution, laws and national interests.

Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanović also reacted on Wednesday to state that by deciding to introduce embargo regarding import of goods from central Serbia, "Priština clearly and unambiguously demonstrated its stand and attitude toward the dialogue with Belgrade".

"By this irrational move, the Kosovo government deprives the dialogue of meaning while at the same time contributing to creation of greater mistrust among Serbs and (ethnic) Albanians," the Ministry for Kosovo-Metohija quoted Bogdanović as saying.

The minister believes that justifications according to which the decision came as a result of failure to achieve an agreement on recognition of Kosovo customs stamps and free trade in fact show that Priština "does not want to be bothered to close open issues through dialogue and compromise, but would rather achieve this by blackmails and politicization of everything, including even practical problems that plague all citizens in the province".

All citizens of Kosovo and Metohija, both Serbs and Albanians, will feel the consequences of this Kosovo government's decision, Bogdanović said and added that this move would at the same time further aggravate the already catastrophic economic situation in the province.

The ministry's state secretary, Oliver Ivanović, also reacted by saying: "I don't think this decision will take hold. I believe the EU will react quickly. If it does take hold, the price will be paid by Albanians in Kosovo who will buy their favorite products via middlemen, at a higher price."

"It's a naive attempt to have Serbia recognize Kosovo as independent, and it won't change the Serb position," he concluded.

The government in Priština made its decision which regards "Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina", Belgrade's decision not to recognize customs seals bearing the symbols of the self-styled "republic of Kosovo".

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence more than three years ago. Serbia rejected the proclamation.