Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti spoke during the Bled Forum in Slovenia, regarding the tensions in the North.
Kurti underlined that the tensions between Kosovo and Serbia must definitely be reduced, adding that Kosovo has taken all the necessary steps to de-escalate tensions.
He also added that he is looking forward to new elections being held in the four municipalities in the north of Kosovo.
“We need to reduce tensions and it has been almost two months since there have been no more protests near municipal facilities in the North. The presence of the Kosovo police in the North has been reduced twice, and I can’t wait to have new elections in the 4 municipalities in the North”, said Kurti.
Kosovo Prime Minister also emphasized that intensive work is being done for Kosovo to be recognized by the 5 EU countries and to advance in the integration processes.
“It is true that 5 countries do not recognize us, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, Romania and Spain, we are working with them bilaterally from a diplomatic point of view, but also in Brussels.
The atmosphere with all these places is better than before. There are some concrete small steps that we hope will change their attitude and be part of the countries that recognize us.
One way that we can try to convince skeptical countries is through economic and democratic progress which is a double success story of the NATO intervention in 1999 to stop the genocide of Milošević’s Yugoslavia.
According to Transparency International and Freedom Hosue, Kosovo is at the top of the 6 countries of the Western Balkans for the rule of law, the fight against corruption and political freedoms for the rights of citizens, so we are optimistic about joining the EU,” Kurti said.
During the Bled Forum Kosovo Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, also responded with the prime minister of Serbia, Ana Bernabić, who said that Kosovo is not a state because it is not recognized internationally and that there is no normalization of relations if the association does not happen.
“At the beginning I must say that for me it is one country, there are not two countries. Kosovo is not recognized internationally and is not part of the UN. I doubt that it is part of the EU while there are 5 countries that do not recognize it. Normalization, which is in the interest of both Serbs and Albanians and the entire region, is at the top of our priorities. Normalization begins with the Brussels agreement signed 10 years ago,” said the Prime Minister of Serbia.
In response to this statement, Kurti said that Serbia cannot break away from either Milošević or Putin, so normalization is difficult.
“We have imposed sanctions against Russia, Serbia has not. He did not distance himself from either Milošević or Putin, so it is not easy for us. Normalization with Serbia is many times more difficult”, said Kurti.
