Kosovo lifts reciprocity with Serbia

Gazeta Express

06/06/2020 11:02

Kosovo Government has revoked reciprocal measures with Serbia paving the way for resumption of the dialogue.

Newly appointed prime minister Avdullah Hoti called a Government meeting on Saturday morning and voted on lifting reciprocal measures on Serbian goods introduced by his predecessor, Albin Kurti.

Hoti addressing media after the Government’s meeting said the decision to revoke tariffs is an important step aimed at removing all obstacles of the dialogue process and called on Serbia to also do the same. “We have an agreement with our international friends and they will pressure Serbia to remove all obstacles in order for the dialogue to resume,” Hoti said.

Ministers of Hoti’s Government from the junior coalition partner – Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) headed by Ramush Haradinaj, voted against the Government’s move. It was Haradinaj who in November 2018 introduced 100 percent tariffs on Serbian goods to counter Serbia’s aggressive campaign against Kosovo’s statehood. Introducing of tariffs stalled the EU-facilitated dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade after Serbia conditioned continuation of the dialogue with the revocation of tariffs. In March 2020 former prime minister Albin Kurti decided to scrap tariffs and replace them with reciprocal measures. His plan on full reciprocity with Serbia caused disagreements with the coalition partner of Hoti’s party – the LDK, which led in toppling the Government in a no-confidence vote in Parliament on 25 March. /GazetaExpress/