Kurti: Serbia wants to harm Kosovo despite talks on normalization of relations

2024-10-05 18:45:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Kurti: Serbia wants to harm Kosovo despite talks on normalization of relations

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said on Saturday that Serbia wants the division of Kosovo and to damage its territorial integrity and state functionality despite the dialogue that is taking place in Brussels for the normalization of relations.

He made these comments at the general meeting of his political entity Vetëvendosje Movement.

"Now Serbia complains that Kosovo is doing unilateral actions, in fact it is only complaining about its attitude, the non-recognition of Kosovo's independence, the complaint is repetition. The bilateral act would be precisely the joint signing of the basic agreement with an implementation annex for the normalization of relations. Precisely by signing the agreement, we do bilateral things, while the internal issues of Kosovo, such as the declaration of Kosovo's independence, are undoubtedly Kosovo's issues", he said.

Kosovo has come under criticism from Western diplomacy for what it described as unilateral and uncoordinated actions in the north, where authorities closed Belgrade-appointed institutions and unveiled plans to open the main bridge over the Iber River in Mitrovica to car traffic.

The envoy of the European Union for negotiations, Miroslav Lajcak, said a day ago during a forum held in Budva, Montenegro, that relations between Kosovo and Serbia constitute the biggest strategic challenge in the region. He said that unfortunately 18 months since the agreement was reached in Brussels and Ohrid, very little has been done to implement it.

"In the meantime, we see the efforts of the Kosovo government to achieve the rule of law in the north of Kosovo. Everyone supports the rule of law but, unfortunately, it has been done in a way that provokes opposition from the international community and frustration from the affected local community. That's why we have less normalization and more tension", he said.

Prime Minister Kurti said that the rule of law is like breathing for the sovereign state.

"Breathing is one-sided, except for first aid maybe, but Kosovo may have needed first aid in the spring and summer of 1999. Kosovo is a sovereign and independent state where the rule of law comes as a direct duty from the sovereignty of the state. And we have not used this rule of law at the expense of rights because the law is fair and because the state is democratic," he said.

Prime Minister Kurti said that Serbia continues to not respect the basic agreement reached last year in Brussels, while he demanded the immediate withdrawal of the letter of the former Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabic, sent to the European Union in December 2023, in which it was said that the agreement is acceptable only in a context that does not refer to the de facto and de jure recognition of Kosovo.

"Through the violence in the north of Kosovo, they have attacked to prove that Albanians and Serbs cannot live together, therefore Kosovo must be divided. The terrorist attack in Banjska i Zveçani a year ago was aimed at a wide and long conflict with all the weaponry that they had brought in advance in order to annex the north of Kosovo. Despite the dialogue in Brussels, they want the division of Kosovo, they want to damage our territorial integrity and our state functionality", said Prime Minister Kurti.

Officials of the European Union say that despite the fact that the agreement has not been signed, it is legally binding for Kosovo and Serbia and that the progress in its implementation is closely related to the progress of both parties in the integration processes./ VOA