EU ultimatum to Serbia: Allow Kosovo officials in the Presheva Valley

2024-01-18 12:03:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

EU ultimatum to Serbia: Allow Kosovo officials in the Presheva Valley

Illustrative photo

The European Union has asked Serbia to allow the visits of Kosovo officials to the three municipalities in the south of Serbia, which are announced in accordance with the agreement reached in the dialogue about mutual visits. The bloc has requested that Kosovo respect this agreement in the same way.

The EU's reaction comes after Kosovo's Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla, was denied permission to visit the Presevo Valley – the southern municipalities in Serbia: Presevo, Medvegja and Bujanoc – at the beginning of January.

"The visit of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Kosovo, Xhelal Sveçla, to Serbia was announced in accordance with the dialogue agreement on official visits. Therefore, Serbia had to allow it and it [visit;] to be realized", said in a response of Peter Stano, spokesperson of the EU for foreign affairs and security.

Stano also said that "the EU continues to invite both sides to fully, and unconditionally, implement all the agreements reached in the dialogue, including the agreements on official visits and freedom of movement".

"All disagreements must be resolved through dialogue. The EU remains ready to facilitate discussions for the parties to find a solution", said the EU spokesperson.

On January 4, Sveçla had planned to visit the Presheva Valley. However, the visit was not allowed to take place by the Serbian authorities.

Even in the past, there were cases when Serbia, but also Kosovo, refused to grant permission for official visits to the respective countries.

On November 27, 2021, the authorities in Serbia rejected the request of four ministers for a two-day visit to the Presheva Valley.

Earlier, Kosovo had also rejected the visit to Kosovo of the head of the Office for Kosovo in the Serbian Government, Petar Petkovic.

In all these cases, the EU had always criticized the parties for refusing to grant permits for visits, asking them to allow such visits on the basis of the agreement reached on mutual official visits.

According to the arrangements between Kosovo and Serbia for official visits, reached under the mediation of the EU, these visits must be announced through liaison officers. Meanwhile, the authorities of the respective states must authorize them./REL