Bislimia with high expectations for lifting sanctions from the EU before 14 September: Provides Kurti and Vuchy equality at a meeting

Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi has given an interview to the Serbian medium “Danas”, where he spoke on the Kosovo-Kosovo dialogue process- Serbia and the Kosovo Serbs.

In one of the answers, Bislimi said it is expected of the European Union that Kosovo will remove punitive measures to establish equality between the parties before the September 14th meeting between Prime Minister Kurti and Serbian President Vuciq, the Express reported.

“in less than two weeks will have a new summit and is expected to ensure that the EU will ensure the equality of the parties in the dialogue by removing punitive measures before this meeting”, Bislimi said.

“Regarding the sanctions imposed by the EU on the Government in Pristina, in what direction can we expect the continuation of the dialogue and if we have any dialogue which could solve many problems that are undoubtedly well-pleased “for the political survival of Kosovo's prime minister, but also of the Serbian president?”, was Danas's question.

“Dialogue is multiplanetary, but in our opinion it should focus on two main pillars, namely implementation of the basic agreement and talks on full normalisation of relations. Kosovo supported the basic agreement and offered its signature. The other side refused to sign and is reconfirming the position every day that it did not accept the plan, but is also working hard on violating its provisions. The best strategy to openly prevent its implementation is through escalation and Serbia is very successful in this. Serbia has not only redirected Brussels' dialogue from normalisation to crisis management, but has also managed to promote the EU from a facilitator to a negotiator. The June 3rd EU statement, along with the measures imposed, later confirm that. However, in less than two weeks there will be a new high-level meeting, and it is expected that the EU will ensure the equality of the parties in the dialogue by removing punitive measures before this meeting”, Bislim responded.

Bislimi for the Serbian media said Kosovo wants the situation in northern Kosovo to be better, and added that Kosovo institutions want to be closer to Serbs, but that Belgrade intervenes.

We want the situation in northern Kosovo to be better, but at least there are no tensions. We would like to be closer to our citizens there, but Belgrade undermines these efforts and prevents Kosovo Serbs from using services and enjoying the rights they belong to”, he has said.

Bislimi added that it has been and it is still Serbia's intention to portray Kosovo as a failed state and its institutions as incompetent, even involuntarily, to integrate the Serb minority, which is simply not true.

He accused Serbia of sacrificing Kosovo Serb citizens to achieve these goals.

“In this direction, Serbia does not refrain from sacrificing Kosovo Serbs in an effort to prove it. The security and institutional vacuum created on November 5th was supposed to serve this goal. We are aware that the current leaders do not enjoy full legitimacy, but we have made every possible effort, including extending the election deadline and later the deadline for registering parties to ensure that representatives of the Serb community in Kosovo compete for these offices. The institutional vacuum serves no one. The same with the police, a citizen who needs protection must be able to call the police for help. Kosovo is a multiethnic state, in this respect, our goal is to ensure that community members are institutionally integrated. We are aware that the lack of Serbian police officers does not inspire sufficient confidence and we are doing our best to change this, but this cannot be done without preventing Belgrade's continued pressure and intimidation towards Kosovo Serb citizens who decide to join the Kosovo Police”.