Conjufca: I'm optimistic about a solution to CEFTA

Kosovo Parliament Speaker Glauk Konjufca, speaking of the current situation regarding the Berlin Process and German demands, has expressed his optimism about a solution to CEFTA, respectively, removing the safety measure for products from Serbia.

He stressed that the talks are continuing and that it is important that the government find a common language with regional initiative organisers in order for Kosovo to be an active part of these regional initiatives.

Even at this point when we're talking we're talking about the matter. I am very optimistic that the government will find a common language with the organisers of these regional initiatives, because Kosovo's interest of course is to be part of them. The government's position you heard was about security issues. Our partners have proposed that this can be solved through some measures to be undertaken and through the aid of scanners. Now it is up to the government to find a common language for an agreement in this regard. If this is achieved, I don't think participation in these very important initiatives is at stake, even in our best interest”, Konjufca said.

The prime minister further stressed that the measures taken by the government have not been aimed at undermining CEFTA, but have been a necessary response to the situation created after the events in Banjska.

It's not like we want to be planners of these regional initiatives. We've taken that measure because of what happened in Binsk. After Banjska, Kosovo's main concern has been whether there is uncontrolled access to Serbian goods and Serbian trucks, it puts Kosovo in a very difficult position because we couldn't have control as far as the possibility of entering very suspicious things, and mainly we've had concerns on the weapons”, Konjufca added.

He has said he has expected international consensus on the issue, but has had consensus only a year. Now as we see Germany, some other countries are very insistent that this measure be removed. We also want not to be deterred by CETA, but we want not to be too naive to get into Kosovo and we don't know”, Conjufca underlined.

As for the political situation within the Parliament, Konjufca expressed concern over the failure of the sessions and the proper malfunction of this institution. He predicted that the coming months would be difficult for the Parliament, stressing the need for negotiations and consensus among parliamentary groups to pass international agreements.

“We've already entered October and we have November, then half of December comes, we're going to the weekend break and then we're going straight into the campaign. I envision these two and a half months not easy for the Republic of Kosovo's Parliament, there will be many complications in terms of operation”, Konjufca acknowledged.

He has said the failure of the hearings will not help operate the assembly.

We must first compile the agenda, and to be able to keep the hearings we must negotiate because of the corum. At least on some issues we need to have consensus to, for example, pass international agreements. It was seen how they went to the end of the spring session, which means the opposition votes to around 20 international agreements and I don't believe it's problematic even now”, he said.

According to him now, it is necessary for the majority group to be more active and to sit down with other parliamentary groups to build an agenda on what could be voted for and not allowed in the Kosovo Assembly during these two and a half months.