German Ambassador warns: Kosovo, Serbia must make some difficult decisions

He stressed that Kosovo and Serbia must make difficult political decisions because there is no time for delaying unresolved problems. The German government, the German government emphasises Ambassador Rohde, has put the Kosovo dialogue (Kosovo) Serbia first, while working that Kosovo is soon receiving visa liberalisation.

Radio Kosova: These days Germany marks Union Day. What does this event mean for Germany, Europe, the Balkans? - What is symbolic of both Germany's Union Day?

Jörn Rohde: I'm going private. To me, the German union meant that I was able to meet my relatives more often. Before the union, visits were linked to many bureaucratic procedures. Moreover, for my relatives, this date was very important because democracy and freedom had come to them. So travel freedom was very important, because citizens of the former Democratic Republic of Germany (DDR) could not travel freely. The Union is a lucky event in Germany's history because we were part of European structures. We had neighbors who supported us on this day. Germany had new neighbors, including friends. I think the case of Germany and its neighbors should also be an important lesson for Balkan countries to become friends so that reconciliation can be reached, as does Germany with its neighbours Poland, Czechia, after World War II with France. I think it's very important for the Western Balkans, which has brought so much suffering not to be recycled, but for youth to see the future in United Europe. Europe is not complete as long as the Western Balkans does not become part of it. We hope for this, and in this post is the Berlin process, which is designed for you, namely, Kosovo and the Western Balkans to become part of the European family.

Radio Kosova: Mr. Ambassador, the German government has named Mr. Manuel Sarrazin special envoy for the Balkans, while these days Germany's Chancellor, Mr. Olaf Scholz, has named his security adviser, sent for Kosovo dialogue Serbia. Does this mean that resolving Kosovo's problem in relation to Serbia has become the priority of the German government?

Jörn Rohde: First I want to stress that the German government has decided and named it a priority to improve the situation and the situation in the Western Balkans, as well as dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. Last week, in Kosovo was again the special envoy of Germany's Foreign Ministry for the Western Balkans, Mr Manuel Sarrazin, meanwhile, the visit of Mr. Jens Plötner, German Chancellor's foreign policy adviser, along with French President Makron's envoy and European Union dialogue envoy Miroslav Lajcak, only testifies to this priority. You have certainly seen our statement where we stressed that Mr. Plötner and Mr. Bonne's visit to Mr. Lajcak's company was intended to make clear to all sides that difficult political decisions should be made, because there is no time to delay unresolved problems. We're living in an extraordinary time when we have a war going on in Europe and that's exactly why, now we want the situation to improve here and that's why Mr. Sarrazuz was here last week, so to push this process forward.

Radio Kosova: The media these days reported that Mr. Plötner and Mr. Bonne, during the visit to Kosovo, have brought a plan for a new framework of dialogue. From the media report, the plan reportedly envisions Serbia accepting Kosovo's independence, without formally recognising it. Mr. Ambassador, can you tell us more about such a plan?

Jörn Rohde: I can't say any more of what's been said in the Federal Government bulls, which, I believe, you've read, including the bulls that came from the European Union, so I have nothing more to add to.

Radio Kosova: Prime Minister Albin Kurti says that at the centre of dialogue with Serbia should be mutual recognition. How do you see the development of the dialogue process away and how did you see the end of this dialogue?

Jörn Rohde: We hope that the end of the dialogue will also bring an end to all existing problems. During German Chancellor Scholz's visit to Kosovo, he stressed what the German government has always underlined; that the two countries are aiming at membership in the European Union, while it is unimaginable that the European Union will accept two countries that do not recognise each other. So it is quite clear that mutual recognition should be the final result of the dialogue process, and that is clear to us. Now how would you reach that conclusion? I can say there are many paths leading to the top.

Radio Kosova: From September we have an agreement that is beginning to apply between Kosovo and Serbia regarding travel documents. Mr. Ambassador, do you expect Mr. Kurt and Mr. Vuchy to find solutions even to car plates?

Jörn Rohde: I hope so. Wait, that's the wrong word! I hope both sides use all their energy to solve existing problems in the interest of the citizens of both countries. The two countries have agreed on bilateral furniture. In the Berlin process, that the federal government has renewed, one of the main elements of this process is the free movement of citizens and I hope that further progress will be made in this direction. We have made it clear that the question of travel documents and free movement is in line with the agreement reached in Brussels.

Radio Kosova: The Serbian side seeks an Association for Serb majority municipalities with executive competence. According to the Government of Kosovo, this would be a type of Serbian subx0-republishing” in Kosovo. This is Prime Minister Kurti's decision to call for the Constitutional Court for Association?

Jörn Rohde: I guess there's more than ten interviews I've been talking about on this subject, so I'm also saying here what I've often repeated. Earlier I mentioned the Brussels Agreement for recognition of ID cards. We have made it clear that even knowing car license plates is in line with agreements reached in Brussels during the dialogue process. However, with the Brussels agreement, Kosovo has also made a commitment to establishing the Association of Serbian municipalities, so we expect this agreement to be implemented in practice as well. Of course, in line with the Kosovo Constitution and of course not to focus on association as a Serbian republic. In Europe, there are many models under which you can solve such problems, and we expect the Kosovo government to address the solution of this problem, to establish association, which is an obligation ratified by the Kosovo Parliament!

Radio Kosova: As we know Serbia, Albania and northern Macedonia have established the “Open Balkans initiative”, but Kosovo refuses to become part of this initiative. How do you see the “Open Balkans initiative”?

Jörn Rohde: The answer to this question is found in the Berlin Process, which was established in 2014 and among the points is the establishment of a common regional market, mobileity, or free movement of people, of the workforce and goods in the region, mutual recognition of diplomas and professions, with the aim of creating trade opportunities, etc. Chancellor Scholz has invited the new Berlin Process meeting for the start of November. On the eve of the summit, there will also be a meeting of foreign ministers. Mr. Sarrazin's visit last week was precisely in the function of preparing this summit, and if these meetings will succeed, then from my point of view, many of the proposals that have been discussed within the framework of the open Balkans initiative have taken place. The Balkans opened so far, in my view, have only been accepted by three states, while the Berlin process includes all six Western Balkan countries.

Radio Kosova: As mentioned, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has revived the Berlin Process. Now, how can the Berlin Process help Kosovo away and maintain peace and security in the region? Prime Minister Kurt has recently spoken of the possibility of a new war, which would be pointless?

Jörn Rohde: The Berlin process aims to bring about practical improvements for the citizen. Behind a common market lies for our opinion, a political idea, because when a common market works, then it's a signal for the European Union, that neighbours are getting together, so it's a good sign for the European integration process. Therefore, we have invested much political capital in this process. My foreign minister was here, the German Chancellor was here to visit. Kosovo is being visited by the man in charge of the Western Balkans. The foreign policy advisers of the German Chancellor and the French president were here. All of these are part of the visits of high political personalities, which serve to make it clear to all actors that we see the region as part of Europe. But on the other hand, the countries of the Western Balkans themselves have to carry out their homework and we expect them, that all the political energy they have, that they instruct and use to achieve progress, and these advances in the first place, should serve people here, so they have to be done for them as is free travel and without obstacles to personal documents. This may then refer to clear messages to the prime ministers of the awareness countries to show a maximum flexibility in their attitudes.

Radio Kosova: A question of co-operation between Germany and Kosovo, with particular emphasis on the area of the economy. The question is, how should we act, or say, seduce, attract German businesses to the line to invest in Kosovo?

Jörn Rohde: You said yourself we had special relationships. Kosovo's largest diaspora lives in Germany. We have very close relationships. Kosovo is on a good track to become a popular model. There are now many challenges, such as the energy crisis. Here we have a very active German-Kosovo Economic Ode, doing a very good job. I think investors come from some reason: They may come because there are very big problems and crises in other countries of the world currently. Kosovo, meanwhile, has the official euro currency, which is easy to pay on the European market, has the attractive laws for investment, the salary target level for foreign investors, but it is Government's duty to create frameworks of investment conditions. For example, what does the possibility of energy investments look like? Are the investments secure? How bureaucratic procedures have been prosecuted, whether job permits and investments are quickly granted, and in this respect there are sometimes lameness. To put it that way, bureaucracy must work faster and be more effective!

Radio Kosova: Kosovo still remains the only country in the region, which has no visa liberalisation. The German government says Germany supports lifting visas. What are the chances of Kosovo receiving visa liberalisation this year?

Jörn Rohde: I would like to highlight what I already said last week, referring to the statement of the heads of the Vajmar Triangle government: France, Poland and Germany, where the goal of visa liberalisation for Kosovo is confirmed. A meeting in Brussels will be held this autumn. Personally, I want to be contained, I have said it in numerous interviews, which I have given for television, but I will be the last German ambassador to Kosovo with visa regimes. I believe liberalisation will take place soon, but even if the decision is made this year, it takes little time to start implementing the decision -- two to three months. I believe that if everything goes properly, in the spring of next year we will no longer talk about this subject.