2 minutes agoAbazovic: Montenegro won't withdraw recognition of Kosovo independence
Periskopi(2 years ago)
(2 years ago)Former Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic said the vote against Kosovo membership in the Council of Europe would be impossible under his mandate and that the EU should be more concrete in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. Abazovic in a statement to Brussels' Euractiv portal said that “although Montenegro declared independence [...]
Former Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic said the vote against Kosovo membership in the Council of Europe would be impossible under his mandate and that the EU should be more concrete in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.
Abazovic in a statement on portal Eractiv of Brussels, said that “although Montenegro declared independence from the union with Serbia in 2006, it maintains strong ties with Belgrade.
“On the other hand, in Montenegro live more than 30,000 Albanians who support Kosovo's independence and reject the stance of Belgrade and its allies”, the former prime minister of Montenegro broadcast Telegraphy.
Asked about the actions of the new government, Abazovic said he has fully supported Kosovo during his mandate, but that there is now a new “reality”.
The new prime minister, Milojko Spajic, had earlier Serbian citizenship and wants closer relations between the two countries a sensitive issue dividing Montenegro in the middle, between independent “” and those who see themselves as Serbs.
However, Abazovic said Montenegro does not plan to attract recognition of Kosovo's independence.
The vote against Kosovo membership in the Council of Europe would be impossible in my mandate, we were very clear in our foreign policy. Our foreign policy was 100 per cent in line with the European Union's foreign policy”, he said, broadcast Telegragraphy.
As for the EU's approach to the stalled dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, Abazovic said Brussels should strengthen its game.
“The EU should be more concrete. If we always have this very soft policy, we'll talk about the same thing after 10 or 20 years. It is a disaster because we have already lost 20 years”, he said.
He adds it is clear that both sides want agreements, but find it difficult to reach agreements.
Kosovo and Serbia want to see a final agreement and show that we are no longer a conflict region, but the region of understanding, but will not be easy”, the former prime minister of Montenegro stressed.
