8 hours agoOsmani seeks Germany's help for new recognition, visa liberalisation
Periskopi(5 years ago)
(5 years ago)Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has called for Germany's support for new recognitions of Kosovo's citizenship, as well as for this country's membership in international organisations during the meeting he has held with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Germany. According to a communique issued by the Kosovo Presidency, Osman has sought support from this [...]
According to a communique issued by the Kosovo presidency, Osmani has sought support from this state for visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens.
“We need a strong voice on our visa liberalisation bid, and there is no better voice than Germany. We have met all criteria for liberalisation. We expect Germany's support in this process”, Osmani was quoted as saying.
Kosovo has been promised visa liberalisation since 2011.
Three years ago, the European Commission has recommended lifting the visa regime for Kosovo. Liberalisation has also been voted into the European Parliament, but the final decision has remained with the EU Council of Ministers.
Kosovo is the only country in the Western Balkans whose citizens do not enjoy the right to free movement in the Schengen area.
The Berlin Process
Osman is said to have discussed with her German counterpart the Berlin Process, which according to her is a powerful impetus for the Western Balkans' European perspective.
According to Osmani, any other idea intended to parallel European Union enlargement and the Berlin Process will not have Kosovo's support.
Similarly, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has indicated after the meeting he held Tuesday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Tirana.
Prime Minister Kurti has said the Berlin Process is the framework and way for the integration of six Western Balkan states into the European Union.
Berlin's “Process is broad enough and also deep enough not to need alternative variants”.
The Berlin process, a diplomatic initiative by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, was launched in 2014 in order to support a peaceful, stable and democratic future of the Western Balkans, as well as to improve regional co-operation and European integration in the region.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said Tuesday that Kosovo will not become part of the Open Balkans initiative.
He has said this has not even asked German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the meeting they held 14 September in Tirana.
Kosovo's “government is the Government of a sovereign state. We represent the people of Kosovo after the elections that we have won massively, as never before, and any co-operation that is conducted is conducted in line with our interests. We do not consider Kosovo's interest, with a Serbia denying war crimes, and does not recognise independence, become together and vote there by majority”, Kurti has said.
The Open Balkans Initiative, formerly known as the Balkan Mini-Sengeni, has been created by Northern Macedonia Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, Serbia's President Aleksandar Vuciq and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
They believe this initiative provides opportunities for strengthening economic co-operation and movement.
Merkel herself has said Tuesday that she supports this initiative.
I also welcome the joint regional market project with four agreements, even though not all are co-operating. Today we have agreed that the more you co-operate, the more powerful the Berlin Process”, Chancellor Merkel has said.
