Osmani on EU measures towards Kosovo: There is a tendency to condition them with the Association
The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has said that there is a tendency on the part of some people in the European Union that the removal of punitive measures against Kosovo be conditional on the implementation of dialogue agreements with Serbia, and not as they have been decided for the de-escalation of the situation in the north. Such conditions, according to President Osmani, will only have a negative effect on the dialogue process and that she opposed such a thing even at the December 13 EU-Western Balkans summit. She emphasized that Serbia’s letter to the EU states informing them that it will not implement the Brussels and Ohrid agreement testifies to its destructive approach to dialogue.
Osmani, after the meeting with the president of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, said that the measures against Kosovo should be removed as soon as possible, while she emphasized that only NATO membership will have a long-term effect on security in the region.
On the other hand, the president of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, said that the normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations is key to the security of the region.
He asked for the implementation of all the agreements that have been signed so far, while he asked the European Union to be more objective in the dialogue and to have positive incentives or punitive measures in case the commitments made are not implemented.
“We continue to insist on dialogue as the only way to solve problems and at the same time implement all the agreements signed so far. I think that this is the only way and the only future of our region. We categorically exclude armed provocations and violence. We also express concern about the situation in the north of Kosovo. Accept our condolences for the loss of the Kosovo police officer who lost his life during the events of September 24 in Banjska. We also insist that the EU has an active role for intensive dialogue and to find solutions acceptable to all that guarantee security and stability. The policy of the EU must be transparent and objective regarding each party involved, and include positive incentive but also a restrictive or punitive measure in case the commitment is not implemented”, he said.
During the joint conference, President Osmani also mentioned the need for concrete steps for Kosovo’s membership towards NATO, starting with the Partnership for Peace.
Likewise, Osmani and Radev stressed the need for deepening the economic cooperation between Kosovo and Bulgaria, while the president of Kosovo pledged to respect the rights of the Bulgarian community in Kosovo.