Kosovo's absurd reports with Bosnia

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has recently refused participation in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's annual conference (BERZH) in Sarajevo, due to <x2-yrrigosis measures” which Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) is applying to Kosovo. President Thaci's explanation reportedly that reports between these two countries are at the lowest level possible, that BiH does not recognise Kosovo as a state, and that its “discriminates against” Kosovars because of the visas that apply. Further reportedly “BiH is behaving anti-Europeanly, and it is even more rude than Serbia itself in relation to Kosovo”. Critics say unresolved reports between the two countries have been unable to free movement of citizens and goods. The most affected are Albanians and Bosniaks, who also have family ties. The Association of Albanians in BiH claims that some 22,000 Albanians currently live in this country, mainly originally from Kosovo.

The Society's president, Muharem Zamenu, says BiH has introduced the visa regime to Kosovo citizens in 2004. By 2008 UNMIK documents have been accepted, but after declaring independence in 2008, things have changed. “BiH has started to apply the most terrible and severe possible regime to Kosovo. It does not recognise any documents issued in the Republic of Kosovo. There are people who have fled during the war from Bosnia to Kosovo and now cannot visit the family because they have Kosovo documents”, Zejnullah explains.

The “means that people from BiH die in Kosovo and the lifeless body cannot return to their homeland because Bosnian police do not recognise Kosovo documents. We also have cases when someone will get married, but they cannot do so because BiH does not recognise Kosovo state documents. This is a violation of basic human rights, not to talk about work-level problems”, Zejnullah claims.

Such measures towards Kosovo do not apply even Serbia. “Reports between Kosovo and Serbia are regulated with the agreement between these two countries, allowing free movement of people and goods. Kosovo documents are known in Serbia. Kosovars can move by car to Serbia, while in BiH they cannot. And then they complain why Kosovo has put taxes against BH... how's BiH doing? I understand BiH does not recognise Kosovo because of problems with Republika Srpska, but why birth certificates and other documents” are not known, Zejrullah asks.

Residents of Kosovo and BiH are victims of irresponsible policy, despite Kosovo President Hashim Thaci's decision not to participate in the recent EURZH meeting. Thaci's decision is named in Sarajevo as “rational but Balkan populist”, says Dnevni Avazi journalist Sead Nunovolic. He thinks the responsibility for current reports between BiH and Kosovo keeps politicians in Republika Srpska, who avoid normalising reports between Pristina and Sarajevo.

Bosnian “Serbs behave in this case more sharply than those of Serbia. Serbia is much softer than Bosnia towards Kosovo. Reports between BiH and Kosovo are tough, retrograde and deeply wrong. They do not help anyone, neither BiH nor Serbia, nor Kosovo”, Nanovic claims. Kosovo tax measures, he calls “absurde”, with the explanation that they have all witnessed “absurd reports between Kosovo and BH”. Critics say President Thaci has missed a very good chance for at the annual EURZH meeting to affirm Kosovo as an independent state and has rendered a service to nationalists on both sides of Drin Aleksandar Vuciqi and Milorad Dodik. While weakened politicians in Sarajevo who are for improving reports.

Radio BH1 journalist Amira Suznja says Hashim Thaci's failure to testify to “the lack of political maturity”. Especially when it is known that Kosovo is trying to strengthen its international position, where such meetings are of great value. Such pressures on BiH have no meaning and are contrary to the interests of both countries. BiH cannot recognise Kosovo's independence due to pressure from RS, which has a more rigid stance than Serbia has confronted Kosovo and thus damages BiH's interests. But Thaci with his boycott has also damaged Kosovo's interests and efforts to strengthen Kosovo's international status, because in Sarajevo it has been able to be represented as president of a sovereign state”, Suzhanj says of Deutsche Welle.

Muharem Zamenu highlights that no one is putting pressure on BiH to recognise Kosovo, but he expects this country to respect previous decisions. Also, the BiH Presidency's decision to accept agreements between Pristina and Belgrade is “We do not pressure BiH to recognise Kosovo, but it should enable normal communication among residents of these countries and recognise documents, such as all other EU countries, which recognise Kosovo”, Zejrullahu says. / DW