French Ambassador for Visas warning “”: Danger if you can't hear Macron's message.

French Ambassador to Pristina Olivier Guérot has spoken of the French President Emmanule Macron's statement, which concerned the suspension of visa liberalisation, made last month in Tirana, which bothered Kosovars.

Macron at the conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said his country has lost confidence and that it is expecting moves from Kosovo and Serbia for its return, adding that visa liberalisation from January 1st-24, France has made it a gesture of trust towards Kosovo.

This statement by Macron, which initially disturbed Kosovars, was interpreted as an immediate suspension of liberalisation, and then as a threat to Kosovo.

In an interview for this matter TimeAmbassador Guerot has not spoken with much certainty, when asked whether Kosovars can freely move to France on January 1st.

“During the press conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, the French president stressed the need for both sides to show responsibility. He clearly underlined his expectations by Serbian President Vuciq -- to condemn with greater determination the acts of September 24th and help restore calm at the border. We hope that all will be enlightened about the September 24th attack and its authors brought to justice. He called on both sides to commit to reorganisation of elections in northern Kosovo, with Serb participation and their return to Kosovo institutions. He has appealed in the spirit of Serbian President Vuciq's responsibility and has expressed similar expectations by the president and Kosovo prime minister. It was in this context that he also raised the issue of visa liberalisation, which was a gesture of confidence but was not mutual at this stage.”, Guérot said.

Guérot said Macron protested that Kosovo authorities, as well as Serbian authorities, respect the word given and commit to moving forward in the coming weeks.

“at this stage, technical preparations for visa liberalisation are continuing on January 1st, but it would be risky not to hear the president's political message that I just remembered.”, he added.