Arifi: 100% tax will not be lifted, even if linked to continuing dialogue

He said in RTK the pressure being put on Kosovo would be good for the address to have Serbia, which does not implement the agreements reached in Brussels. As for technical dialogue, he said he is clinically dead.

The 100 per cent tax on Serbian products was inevitable because of Serbia's actions, but it is not directed towards Serbian citizens of Kosovo, who are continuing to be instrumentalised by Belgrade. So said Kosovo delegation chief in technical dialogue with Serbia and Prime Minister Haradinaj's political adviser, Avni Arifi.

Commenting on reactions regarding the tax, Arifi said it would not be removed until Serbia recognises independent Kosovo, even despite international pressure and calls, as well as Serbia's ultimatums. According to him, the EU's response address, the Mogerini lady and other international pressures should be Serbia, not Kosovo.

Arifi said the Kosovo government has not consulted anyone from international friends on the tax, until he acknowledged it will not be easy to maintain this measure, but said the government is committed to it.

The tax decision has come from the Kosovo government, Prime Minister Haradinaj's adviser said, and that the decision under him should not be a political race between coalition partners.

The chief of the Kosovo delegation in technical talks with Serbia said technical dialogue has died clinically because of Serbia, which has not implemented any agreement reached.

Arifi said that only because of the failure to implement the energy agreement Kosovo has lost from 30m euros annually, while 12m euros have been lost for the construction of joint border points.

The chief of technical dialogue with Serbia said the tax on Serbian products will not be lifted even if this relates to continuing dialogue between the two countries.