Opposition calls visa liberalisation meaningless with dialogue process

Opposition MPs have said it is meaningless that visa liberalisation is conditional on the process of dialogue with Serbia.

Democratic Party of Kosovo deputy (PDK), Blerta Deliu-Kodra, has said it is unfair for Kosovars to be disappointed instead of enjoying free movement.

She hopes that at the next December 9th meeting of the Council of Ministers, Kosovo will have the final chance and that citizens will move freely to the Schengen area.

“First of all, it is meaningless that the visa liberalisation process that has been a long process where Kosovo over the years has made progress to condition itself with any other process even with the dialogue process for which there has been recent discussions, but also with the process of Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe. It is separate processes, and it is unfair that Kosovo will be placed in the dilemma whether progress in the dialogue should be translated into free regime for the free movement of Kosovo citizens. We have met 95 criteria which have been laid out on the road map for visa liberalisation, and of course our expectations have been that the several-year-old work institutions have made we have positive news”.

Therefore a moment has been created that this expectation of citizens will end. But there has been a disappointment of citizens. I want to believe that in December when it is the next meeting of the Council of Ministers by December 9th, we will have a new chance to confirm that the EU believes in the values of a state, which is making progress to meet these criteria. I can't talk about deadlines. This criterion depends on the EU, so we have fulfilled obligations for others, and the EU remains to confirm that this commitment should translate into a decision of free movement for Kosovo citizens”.

Even Alliance for the Future of Kosovo deputy (AAK), Time Kadriaj, said that Kosovo is being wronged in the process.

In contrast, regarding the question of dialogue, Kadriaj said the government is nontransparent and that Prime Minister Kurti must report to the Assembly.

The visa liberalisation issue has had conditions and criteria, and dialogue are two separate issues. Kosovo has met all criteria and has no right to even those with additional conditions and criteria on the issue of liberalisation. This is an injustice being done to Kosovo, where they are still being held without visa liberalisation. This government is too transparent in terms of dialogue process”.

The “Kurti should come to report both to the Commission and to the convent because at Vetevendosje initiative in the Assembly a resolution has been adopted that imposes each negotiator after every round of debate and discussion comes to report to the assembly and that's not happening. It's completely closed and not transparent”, Kadriaj said. /eo/