Government of Kosovo has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to impose visa regime to the nationals of Bosnia and Herzegovina wishing to enter Kosovo.
The decision was taken by the Government in today’s meeting.
The reason for the decision is failure of Sarajevo authorities to reflect in enabling free movement for the citizens of Kosovo.
The decision was justified by Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj.
“On 29 November 2013 we took a decision to apply visas to 37 countries from different parts of the world which is related to the visa liberalization process but today, we ask from you, honoured government cabinet, to also start applying the visa regime for Bosnia and Herzegovina”, said FM Hoxhaj.
“Since declaration of Kosovo’s independence until 2012, Bosnia has had a very isolating approach to Kosovo. At the time there was no visa regime and we were in a situation when no citizen of the Republic of Kosovo could travel freely to Bosnia without a visa”.
“In 2011 and 2012, we have made efforts to find a modus with Bosnia. Despite this, the Bosnian government decided to impose a visa regime for Republic of Kosovo”.
“Allow me to inform you that this visa regime applied by Bosnia to the citizens of Kosovo is very specific, it gives more special permits than ordinary visas for the citizens of Kosovo travelling to Bosnia, with the decision being taken at the Government level and then submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”.
“So after all this history of Bosnia-Kosovo relations regarding visa-free travel to Bosnia, we suggest applying reciprocity measures to Bosnia. Such a move also enjoys the support of the Bosniak community in the Republic of Kosovo”.
“This reciprocity measure is not directed against the citizens of Bosnia but at the same time is a message to the authorities who we believe in the near future will come up with a political solution enabling our citizens and those of Bosnia to travel freely”, said Hoxhaj.
So far, the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been stubborn in demands to recognize Kosovo passports, adopting an even stricter stance than Serbia which has already agreed to allow citizens of Kosovo to travel with Kosovo documents.
