Scholz: The past should not hinder Serbia and Kosovo

2024-10-14 11:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

At the Berlin Process Summit, Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulates Kosovo on its success in CEFTA and calls on Serbia and Kosovo to overcome differences over their European future.

During the opening of the Berlin Process summit on Monday, 14.10. in Berlin, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised the progress of the Western Balkan states in regional cooperation. He placed special emphasis on Kosovo's contribution and congratulated it on its recent achievements within the framework of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). "I would like to congratulate Kosovo for the contribution it has made recently. The diplomacy of the CEFTA agreement is a great achievement for regional cooperation", emphasized Scholz.

The Berlin Process, which was founded ten years ago, aims to support the countries of the Western Balkans on their way to the European Union and promote regional initiatives. Scholz emphasized the importance of this cooperation to face economic and social challenges. The chancellor announced the signing of two important documents that will make life easier for people in the region: "We will sign two documents that will make people's daily lives easier. A new action plan for the regional common market and an agreement on access in study opportunities, which will expand student mobility."

Serbia and Kosovo, Call for European normalization and integration

In his speech, Scholz also referred to the ongoing tensions between Serbia and Kosovo and called on both countries not to see the past as an obstacle to the European future. "We all know how much your region is still affected by the conflicts of the past," he said. "But now is the time to look to the future. We need a new dynamic and a normalization process between Serbia and Kosovo." Scholz emphasized that the full implementation of the agreements reached earlier is the key to a successful integration in Europe: "I remain convinced that the future is in the European Union. There is only one path that leads there, and that is full implementation of the agreements you have already reached."

At the end of his speech, the chancellor emphasized the role of the Berlin Process as a platform for resolving bilateral conflicts and praised the commitment of the Western Balkan countries to peace and cooperation: "It is a clear commitment to resolve bilateral issues and to agreed peacefully. That's what the Berlin Process is all about." Scholz reiterated that he will continue to personally stand by the countries of the Western Balkans and support them on their way to the European Union./ DW