Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo Memli Krasniqi said on Monday that his party will sever and suspend all official communication with Prime Minister Albin Kurti and President Vjosa Osmani due to the punitive measures imposed by the European Union.
He made these comments a few days after the European Union announced that the punitive measures against Kosovo are now in effect and that the institutions in Pristina have been notified.
These include suspension of the work of the bodies of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, Kosovo not being invited to high-level meetings, and suspension of bilateral visits except those focused on addressing the crisis in northern Kosovo within the framework of the EU-facilitated dialogue. The IPA 2024 program is also on hold, and proposals submitted by Kosovo under the Investment Framework for the Western Balkans (WBIF) have not been submitted for review by the board on 29-30 June.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti has called the punitive measures by the European Union unjust and emphasized that he cannot compromise on the rule of law and the constitutionality of the country.
Opposition parties in Kosovo have stated that they will take different steps to oppose the government’s policies that are leading the country towards isolation.
Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo Memli Krasniqi said on Monday after the party’s leadership Council meeting that the country is facing the greatest crisis.
“From today, we sever and suspend all official communication with Prime Minister Albin Kurti and President Vjosa Osmani, except in emergency or extraordinary situations or to discuss the date of snap parliamentary elections. These are the people who have brought sanctions upon Kosovo by the United States, these are the people who have changed the Euro-Atlantic and Western course of the Republic of Kosovo and our citizens, these are the people who have now brought sanctions and punitive measures from the EU,” he said.
Krasniqi announced that from now on, his party will not vote on any legislative initiatives or decisions in the Parliament of Kosovo.
The Democratic League of Kosovo in the opposition has also announced that it will take actions against the country’s institutions due to the situation with Kosovo’s partners. The party boycotted the parliament presidency meeting on Monday.
Head of the parliamentary group of the Democratic League Arben Gashi said on Monday, that “as a parliamentary group, we consider it harmful for Kosovo and impossible to act as if nothing has happened. Therefore, we will not participate in the Presidency’s meeting now or in the future.”
Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo Lumir Abdixhiku announced the inception of an initiative “to articulate a common social opinion as a new path for Kosovo in the face of the conflicting policies of the Kosovo government with its historical allies”.
He announced through social media that discussions will soon begin with analysts, journalists, civil society organizations, university professors, former diplomats, and businesses from the private sector in the country to present, as he said, “not only the need for the construction of a common Euro-Atlantic opinion and path, but also our proposals for overcoming the current isolating and tense crisis”.
Meanwhile, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj has called on other opposition parties and majority deputies to support a motion to dismiss Prime Minister Albin Kurti due to the sanctions imposed by Kosovo’s allies.
“The EU sanctions against Kosovo and the warnings from the U.S. that the Kosovo government is on the wrong path demonstrate how dangerous and hopeless the situation is, which unfortunately will deteriorate further,” he wrote on social media, emphasizing that the motion to dismiss Albin Kurti is in the national interest.
Kosovo is facing one of its deepest crises in its relations with international allies due to the situation in northern Kosovo.
