Italian Ambassador: It is time for demarcation to be ratified

Kosovo has made much progress over ten years of independence, but it takes an even greater commitment to achieve the required European standards to join the EU and NATO, until you are only two steps away from liberalisation.

Thus stated Italy's ambassador to Kosovo, Piero Cristoforo Sardi, in an interview for KosovoPress, where he spoke of reaching the new state in the first decade of independence.

Fifty years of independence for a new country like Kosovo is not much and should be celebrated as it is currently celebrated. Of course Kosovo in these ten years has made much progress, but representatives of Kosovo institutions should engage even more so as to meet the required European standards”, he said.

While saying Kosovo has taken steps forward and in terms of economic development, it is in the hands of its institutions, to do more in terms of developing the economy, as Kosovo has already signed the SAA.

“Even in terms of economic development is worth much the same, for the progress Kosovo has made in the past ten years. It is true that in 2008, when Kosovo declared independence, it has been the biggest economic crisis in the last 100 years in the world. There is another fact that Kosovo has signed the SAA, so in its own hands, it has several instruments to develop the economy. Of course, even here it is worth developing the economy, based on the requirements and criteria required by the EU, so Kosovo has taken steps forward and in that direction”, he said.

He says politicians are required to implement the commitments they have made and that come out of agreements with the EU, which help them approach the EU and Euro-Atlantic integration.

According to him, Italy has always supported Kosovo, before and after its independence and will continue to support it. Sardi further claims he will support local leaders to meet the criteria that arise in both economic, social, institutional, and particularly order and law.

He has gone that Kosovo is only two steps away from visa liberalisation. While stating that the declaration reached between the president of Montenegro and Kosovo for ratification of demarcation is an important step towards visa liberalisation.

The visa liberalisation is linked to the agreement Kosovo has signed with the EU. So far Kosovo has met 93 criteria, there are two other criteria remaining, such as for ratification of demarcation and the other criteria involving fighting organised crime and corruption, so Kosovo towards visa liberalisation is only two steps away... We saw the joint declaration signed between the two presidents and consider it a positive step. We consider that the right moment has been created for the deal to be ratified in the Assembly, we are waiting for it to take place very quickly in the coming days. Today, the country's top leaders have expressed their opinion in favour of ratification of the agreement. I believe the right moment has been created and I believe as soon as this is realised and we will be one step closer to visa liberalisation”, he said.

The Italian ambassador has also spoken of the initiative to abolish the Special Court, claiming that this initiative should not be advanced, as activating specialised rooms is important for order and law in Kosovo.

A few weeks ago, the country's three main leaders -- the president of the republic, prime minister and chairman of the Assembly -- have declared that the initiative to abolish the Special Court has no future, so it will not continue and we appreciate this gesture of theirs. We hope it will be implemented by all institutions. Activating specialized rooms is very important, so order, law and justice are very important for all victims, so we hope that this proper direction will be maintained”, he said.

While he says Italy will support Kosovo's Euro-Atlantic perspective.

“As the representative of a country that has always supported Kosovo, a country that is one of the founding countries of the EU and NATO, we want Kosovo integration into the EU and NATO, we wish them success in this direction because these will be a step forward in Kosovo's full integration into the EU. A few days ago The EC has introduced the strategy for EU enlargement, featuring several key points that must be met and are very important -- for Kosovo and the entire Balkans. It is a long process, which requires great commitment on the part of Kosovo. We, like Italy, support Kosovo's Euro-Atlantic perspective and encourage them to meet these goals as soon as possible so that Kosovo's European perspective will be finally realised. I had completed the interview with the wish for Kosovo's birthday, ten years of independence. You have roads, you've made commitments before. We will support you but you must engage. It's important that you stick to your commitments. We will support you”, he said.