Kosovo's challenge with CEFTA, experts: Big consequences for the economy

Former Trade, Industry and Enterprise Minister Ismet Mulaj says the executive must find modalities and in co-ordination with Germany exceed this situation.

Mulaj has provided clarification that it concerns Kosovo's problems with CEFTA.

Kosovo is not blocked in CEFTA because decisions in CEFTA deal with unanimous decision, but Kosovo has problems with the Berlin Process and with Germany, EU member states. Germany, as a trumpeter of the Berlin Process, has set conditions for Kosovo, or you will remove security measures against Serbia, or you will be excluded from the Berlin Process, while in terms of CEFTA, decisions there are made with unimania, if Kosovo uses any decision there can be made. So Kosovo risks using UNMIK's veto within CEFTA, so these problems should be looked at very carefully, because there are regional agreements aimed at integrate Western Balkan countries as quickly as possible within the EU, Kosovo should be acting in the international arena, not isolated country or creating problems in this direction. I'm not saying that the Government of Kosovo in some ways is not right, but communication bridges should be found with Germany and other countries in order to overcome this crisis that we are currently”, Mulaj says.

He adds that on the basis of German guarantees, Kosovo will be represented with astrology in CEFTA without UNMIK.

“Germanism has offered guarantees, if Kosovo eliminates these measures that it has decided on Serbia, Kosovo will find solutions to how to represent Kosovo without UNMIK ... Kosovo should take seriously these concerns of Germany, it will have to find the best solutions for Kosovo, in order to be an equal part of CEFTA, and to be an integral part of the Berlin process ... Kosovo risks much if disfellowshipped from the Berlin process, loses its image in the international arena, loses the opportunity to benefit hundreds of millions of euros from the EU and from Germany, and to risk tax from regional countries in an economically isolated Kosovo, Muj> adds to the province.

While economy connoisseur Safet Gerjaliu stresses that Kosovo's expulsion from the regional organisation CEFTA leads to huge losses for the country in every respect.

“needs to be understood that the importance of CEFTA is packaged whether in terms of economic, political, regional co-operation...04:45 I believe that any deviation from this road and this journey of Kosovo will be victory for Kosovo's enemies, but defeat for Kosovo in every respect. Therefore, it should not only be thought in power and chairs, but for state and citizens, the voice of international friends, in particular, of European states, in this case we have Germany ... It does not need these obstacles and this arrogance of power to be measured solely in monetary terms, Kosovo is losing international friends, Kosovo is isolated, and today for Kosovo little one who wants to speak and do ... in this direction the fact that we are in the process of implementing the Western Balkan project for growth and development can be said to lose close to 900m euros, says Gerliu.

On the other hand, Vetevendosje Movement MP Halil Thaci tells Kosovo that despite challenges even under the Berlin Process, the government will continue preserving security and legitimacy in the north.

Despite the challenges we will have ahead of whether the Berlin process or something else we will continue to extend sovereignty and certainly maintain the law and everything will be implemented, Thaci says.

Meanwhile, the deputy of PDK, Hajdar Beqa, accuses the Kurti government of risking isolating Kosovo in the international and regional arena, while stressing that German representatives' warnings to Kosovo are serious.

We have a government with no agenda and in all areas we're taking risks, but I think that's where we have to make it... the German government is serious, but ours is unfortunately not”, Beqa says.

KosovoPress has also sought answers from the CEFTA Secretariat, but the same have not responded to CEFTA's recent performance in relation to Kosovo.

Senior German officials committed to the Balkans have warned that Kosovo could be excluded from regional trade initiatives if it continues to insist on the ban it implements on importing goods from Serbia, and, therefore, as they estimate, violates CEFTA principles.

The security measure for stopping Serbian goods was taken 14 June by the Kosovo government, the day the three Kosovo police officials were kidnapped by Serb forces within Kosovo's territory.

Meanwhile, the government had later made the decision to ease the safety measure towards goods, removing security measures only for raw materials and half products.