Bislimi for Kathimerini: Time for Athens to make recognition decision, Cyprus to avoid parallels with Kosovo case

“We would like to strengthen our friendship with Athens and have shown patience by contributing to this relationship even when recognition was not on the table. Now that Serbia is practically committed to recognising Kosovo and is slowly realizing that it is best even for it, Athens must benefit from this moment to take the decisive step and strengthen our joint efforts to stabilise the Western Balkans” he said.

Bislimi has declared it is in Cyprus' interest to avoid parallels with the Kosovo case.

The “is in Cyprus' interest to do as much as possible to avoid these” parallels, he said. Regarding Kosovo's European course, following the recent application for membership to the European Union, Bislimi says what he expects is that no country will block Kosovo's membership in international organisations, which Serbia itself has already agreed to.

Bislimi has said that the five non-recognitional states “review their position and support us further in terms of strengthening our institutions, but also achieving convergence for European criteria. ”

Bislimi said the term of 6 Western Balkan countries (WB6) already exists, which “clearly considers Kosovo a future member”, until he added that Kosovo would not avoid its responsibilities in the report to communities living in Kosovo.

“required conditions- For Kosovo, the necessary condition is complete normalisation through mutual recognition, while for Serbia the crucial condition is for Pristina to accept an association of municipalities, inhabited mainly by Serbs, which would give Serbs a degree of autonomy. There is already an appropriate framework agreed on last Monday in Brussels, and we will seek to work on it. Kosovo will not avoid its responsibilities and will ensure that all minorities in Kosovo are safe, said Mr. Bislimia, but did not specify how the implementation of this constructive issue will be achieved”, says the Kathimerini article.