Gerjali: Kurti's proposal for CEFTA change is political, does not bring economic change

He stressed that the CEFTA agreement produced good results on the European Union market, but that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti will likely sign a new Central European Free Trade Agreement to eliminate political obstacles accompanying the CEFTA agreement.

I think this proposal has political cootation. It is far better to meet all the advice of the initiatives we have because they exist, but the problem is their implementation”, Gerjaliu told the Serbian portal “Kosovo Online”, expressing concern for the lack of reaction of chambers of commerce in Kosovo and Serbia.

This proposal is to achieve a balance, to see the future with different eyes once and for all, and not for politics to drown all” initiatives, Gerjaliu said.

Prime Minister Kurti proposed changing the CEFTA agreement during the last meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq in Brussels. His idea is for the six Western Balkan countries to move from CEFTA to SEFTA according to the model of agreements Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland have with the European Union.

However, Gerjaliu believes neither SEFTA nor any other agreement will bring positive economic changes without resolving open political issues.

If all these conditions, as well as those predicted by the CEFTA Secretariat and those signed in Sofia, are met, we will come to what is now a new proposal. Whatever happens, until the political problem is resolved and obstacles removed, it will be the first step on a long road that will not lead us anywhere”, Gerjaliu stressed.

He also commented on the recent statements by American officials to Kosovo leaders, stressing that they should be taken seriously because without the support of the United States, Kosovo's future will be very uncertain.

“Politicians seem to be under pressure to lose power by solving the problem. We have an example of Greece and Macedonia, when there was a big problem with the name, but after they solved that problem, both Tsipras and Zaev lost their elections. I think this warning from the American side has great significance, but the question is whether there should always be a higher power in the Balkans that will solve problems and put pressure on it. We must understand that these warnings are of great importance, because if Americans raise their hands, we will lose the future, the sooner we understand the seriousness of dialogue and reach a” solution, Gerjaliu said.