Kosovo reverts trucks with Serbian goods after expansion of reciprocal measures

Gazeta Express

01/06/2020 15:10

11 trucks with goods from Serbia were not allowed to enter Kosovo, after their documents are not in line with the recent Kosovo Government decision on reciprocal measures. The Government in a decision taken on Saturday said that trucks transporting Serbian goods cannot enter Kosovo unless the Republic of Kosovo is indicated on the accompanying documents.

Kosovo Customs spokesperson, Adriatik Stavileci, told Gazeta Express that all trucks banned at the border have to do with the new reciprocity measures with Serbia. “The Government’s decision is being fully implemented by the Kosovo Customs. Until now we have returned 11 trucks,” he said.

Kosovo’s Government decision was not welcomed by the EU special representative on Kosovo-Serbia Dialogugue, Miroslav Lajcak. In a statement posted on Twitter on Sunday Lajcak said that he is disappointed with the decision and urged Kosovo Government to withdraw the decision and enable resumption of dialogue with Serbia.

Also, Kosovo president Hashim Thaci has criticised the decision of the caretaker Government headed by Albin Kurti saying that this does not contribute to what was achieved in two decades.

Kosovo Government in a statement on Saturday said the Cabinet has decided to amend and supplement the decision on the gradual implementation of reciprocity as a principle in relations with Serbia. According to the amendments to this decision, in trade relations with Serbia, there shall be a prohibition for documents on agricultural and industrial products that use the names of countries containing other elements contrary to the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, the names of places in the Republic of Kosovo, but without the name of the state, which do not refer to the Republic of Kosovo and contain any element that denies the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Kosovo. The Government said also that the Food and Veterinary Agency is obliged to use the emblem and the name Republic of Kosovo in phytosanitary and veterinary certificates, while economic operators from Serbia must be provided with an entry permit for each vehicle transporting goods entering the Republic of Kosovo from the Liaison Office of the Republic of Kosovo in Serbia. /GazetaExpress/