Osmani: We have made progress in lobby with five non-recognitional EU states

Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Romania and Slovakia continue not to recognise Kosovo's independence.

This Ottoman statement comes as Kosovo aims to apply for EU membership, which to grant the status of the candidate country to Kosovo, requires unanimous approval of 27 member states, which remain divided in positions on the issue.

But we want to use these years on two fronts, one to make sure we push forward for important reforms in our country that will draw us closer to the EU. And secondly, to convince all EU members to support Kosovo's membership and grant us candidate status”, President Vjosa Osmani said of Euroactiv.

Osmani has said that they have chosen December as a date to apply with the goal of doing so during the Czech presidency of the EU Council, because, according to her, Prague has given much support to Kosovo and the region, as well as to the hope that visa liberalisation will be finalised by the end of the month.

Sweden, which is far less interested in enlargement, takes the lead from the Czechs on January 1st.

Asked whether there is any specific strategy or approach that is being used with the perceived five, she said they are going step by step and that progress has been made.

With some, Osmani said, there is already a high level of economic co-operation, recognition of documents, tourism, culture, which means that what remains is formal recognition.

So we will continue with this approach even with other non-recognitionants, some of whom had a more rigid approach to Kosovo, but I think we are getting there, we just have to be patient...”

Osmani said he is grateful to those who are partners and allies, but stressed that the EU as a whole must realise that vague messages are no longer appropriate in the current geopolitical context.

I think this is one of those turning points in history where the European Union needs to understand that mixed messages, vague messages don't do things anymore. They must be clear to the Western Balkans, with support from members of the Western Balkans who have taken a clear position for Ukraine, a clear position against Russia”.

Osmani has also been asked about the new version of the “franco-German” proposal brought by emissari Lajcak, but refused to elaborate its contents and said it is now in the analysis phase by top state officials, who will then have a common and coordinated approach.

However, she explained that mutual recognition is the only solution that will ensure lasting peace and stability in the region.

“We will continue to be constructive, to be open, to be creative and to compromise when necessary, but never in a way that would make Kosovo an dysfunctional state. This is the red line”, she said