Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj said he has written to the head of the EU Office in Kosovo Nataliya Apostolova and all ambassadors accredited to Kosovo and explained the reasons that led the government decide to introduce a 100 percent tax on import of goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Haradinaj said he expects Apostolova to inform the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini about the content of the letter and noted that the decision was taken to protect the interests of Kosovo and comes as a response to Serbia’s blockade on Kosovo products.
Haradinaj went on to published the content of the letter on his Facebook page where he says the decision is in line with the Central Europe Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) which stipulates that its members have the right to undertake any measure necessary to protect essential security interests or for the implementation of international obligations or national policies. He said Kosovo has met all its obligations stemming from CEFTA and will continue to do so. “The Government of Kosovo calls on EU representatives, as facilitators of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, to make Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina fulfil their obligations under CEFTA and other agreements,” the letter reads. Haradinaj said Kosovo is committed to the principle of free trade and believes dialogue based on good will and mutual respect is the only way to build trust between countries and peoples. “Republic of Kosovo has for many years demonstrated considerable patience in face of increasing hostility and provocation. Tariffs introduced on 18 November are an unavoidable result of such actions,” Haradinaj concluded in the letter.
