PM Kurti after meeting Macron: France has not pledged visa liberalization for Kosovo

English

Gazeta Express

24/06/2021 9:00

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace Wednesday, said that Paris has not pledged visa liberalization for Kosovo. Kurti said that he discussed with Macron on mutual relations and Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue. President Macron called on Pristina and Belgrade to reach a compromise and normalize relations.

“I am calling on Kosovo and Serbia to act at the European level to seek a compromise, which will allow Belgrade and Pristina to definitely look to the European future,” Macron said ahead of meeting with Kurti.  

Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti said that Kosovo is ready to discuss with Serbia the status of mutual relations, and not the status of Kosovo. Speaking to Kosovo’s public broadcaster – RTK after meeting Macron Kurti said that the dialogue should be concluded with mutual recognition. “The independence of Kosovo, state sovereignty, are not negotiable. We are ready to discuss with Serbia the status of our relations, and not our status, because this was decided when Kosovo declared independence,” Kurti said.

Kurti said that he discussed with Macron also on visa liberalization, but there is no pledge of waving visas. “I am convinced that they [France] got our message, but there is no pledge of waving visas,” Kurti told RTK.

Despite European Commission confirmation that Kosovo has met all visa liberalization requirements, France and Netherlands remain skeptical blocking visa-free regime for Kosovo citizens in the EU Schengen area. /GazetaExpress/