“I have written a letter to all EU governments when I have identified 11 violations of Serbia with systematic and sporadic barriers and I am expecting their answer. Reciprocity will be introduced because there is no other way, there is no equality without reciprocity,” said Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti in a press conference after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Tirana on Tuesday, local media reported.
Kurti revealed that he was preparing with the Minister of Industry and Customs to successfully implement reciprocity and was looking forward to starting implementing that step successfully.
The PM also reiterated his opposition to the regional initiative of ‘Open Balkan’ launched by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and North Macedonia Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. Kurti said that during the meeting he had with Chancellor Merkel, Kosovo was not asked to join the ‘Open Balkan’ initiative. Pristina’s government head said that no regional initiative can be successful without the European Union’s involvement.
He has also commented on the statements of Albanian PM Rama who during the joint press conference with Chancellor Merkel said that Kosovo is “spreading conspiracy theories” by refusing to join the ‘Open Balkan’.
Kurti told journalists that he does not know what conspiracies PM Rama was referring to, adding however that the EU-backed Berlin Process is necessary and sufficient for the region’s European path and there is no need for alternatives, implying on the ‘Open Balkan’ backed by Rama, Vucic and Zaev.
When speaking on Rama’s approach, Kurti said: “The pressure should be exerted on Serbia which denies crimes and refuses recognition of Kosovo’s independence.”
In presence of the Chancellor Angela Merkel, PM Rama accused Kurti of spreading conspiracy theories with regard to ‘Open Balkans’. He also ordered his staff not to allow Kosovo journalists to ask questions during the press conference of Rama and Merkel, who concluded a visit to Tirana where she attended a farewell meeting with government heads of 6 WB countries involved in the Berlin Process. /argumentum.al
