Osmani: There are serious potential for overcoming situation in northern Kosovo

Northern Macedonia Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani has called on Kosovo authorities, but also on those in Serbia to accept the EU's plan for deceleration of the situation in the north. He's in an interview for RTK has said it has serious potential for overcoming the situation with multiple consequences for Kosovo, Serbia and the entire region.

“I think it is in the interest of Kosovo and Serbia to immediately begin the process of implementing the depass plan, because there is general appreciation that there is a serious potential for a transition there with multiple consequences for Kosovo and Serbia, but also for the entire region. Therefore, every day delayed in this direction goes against the region, but especially at the expense of Kosovo”, Osmani has declared.

He said that from the beginning, he has been closely following developments in the north, both as foreign minister of a state that is neighbouring two states -- Kosovo and Serbia -- but also as leader of the OSCE.

“In these two functions I have tried to contribute to the escalation of the situation in the north. We remember that we were also the host of the meeting in Ohrid when the agreement was reached, and that gives us additional commitments to be active in resolving the” situation, Osmani said.

He also responded to the idea of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama for a regional conference with leaders of two states.

All these initiatives are well intended and have in mind Kosovo's interest, but also the region's. I have assessed Prime Minister Rama's initiative as a good aim, which should be seriously considered in the function of creating possibilities for dialogue, as dialogue is the only way to resolve differences between the two states”, Osmani said.

However, the Macedonian diplomacy chief said there are no more ideas what Rama predicts at this conference, but, above all, Osmani praised the positive.

The “Dialogue from there is alternative, because the opposite of dialogue is confrontation and it's not in anyone's interest, so I can't judge what Rama thinks format, with what dynamic composition, but each alternative to dialogue is better than the passing of violence”, the Minister Osmani stated.

He finally spoke of the warning measures “punishing the EU's” for Kosovo and Serbia unless they implement the plan for the north. Osmani said that as a candidate country has been announced for the European Union's ideas, but he hopes that the situation will be complicated and that there will be no irreparable “situate”. / RTK/