Rate “rin” dialog

The Kosovo government has toughened measures on products coming from Serbia, despite demands by Serbian authorities and European Union officials that the 100 per cent tax on Serbian products be lifted so that the best climate for continuing Brussels dialogue can be created. The Kosovo government has already decided that the 100 per cent tax will be applied to the international bodies produced in Serbia and which were within a list, which the Government of Kosovo had released from the tax measure.

This decision by the Government of Kosovo will begin to be implemented as of January 1st, 2019.

European Union officials have earlier criticised Kosovo, saying the customs tariff imposed on Serbian goods, except that it violates the Free Trade Agreement, it also poses an obstacle to the resumption of dialogue for normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

But, Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, after the Kosovo government's meeting on Friday, has said he has already explained the reasons for the tax decision through official letters in which all arguments have been given. According to him, such arguments have not been rejected by anyone, and the European Union's request for the removal of the tax on Serbian goods, as he has said, is a clear political requirement.

<x0) This is evidence not only that we are entitled to the tax but also are being imposed on other actions. I am very surprised at the silence of Mrs. (Federica) Moghrini, of other commissioners (Johannes), Hahn, (Cecilia) Malmstrom and all other EU officials for silence of this letter, it is not in the spirit of dialogue or EU membership. This is against dialogue, against the European perspective of our region, and I appeal to them, appeal to EU leaders not to be silent, because this silence has brought about the work we are in today”, Haradinaj stressed.

Also, Prime Minister Haradinaj has said the government he heads has welcomed US President Donald Trump's letter to both presidents.

Authorities in Kosovo are already preparing to approach the final phase of dialogue with Serbia, which, as stated, is expected to conclude with a legally binding agreement on the parties.

The Kosovo Assembly has already mandated the negotiating team, which consists of representatives of the ruling parties and one of the opposition political subjects, the Democratic Party. Representatives of this negotiating team have met on Thursday with ambassadors of the Quinti countries, who, as told, have given support to this delegation and have also called for unity and involvement of the entire political spectrum in the final phase of talks between Kosovo and Serbia. In the dialogue Kosovo is expected to be represented by President Hashim Thaci and the negotiating team.

But, while authorities in Kosovo are making preparations for dialogue, Serbia's authorities have said the tax imposed by the Kosovo Government impedes dialogue.

About a week ago, Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, has stressed that dialogue in Brussels will not resume without the removal of this tax.

“I have said that Serbia is ready for continued dialogue immediately after the removal of these taxes. I think that's important and we haven't changed our” position, Vuciq said.

However, representatives of the negotiating team have stressed that the Kosovo side, on January 8th of 2019, will have a meeting in Brussels to discuss with European Union officials and inform them of the performance of preparations in Kosovo for the dialogue process.