Next year Kosovo is expected to chair the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). Kosovo’s Minister for Trade and Industry, Bajram Hasani, told Radio Free Europe that Kosovo will be presiding only under the name Kosovo, without UNMIK acronym. He added that representatives of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo will not be participating at CEFTA meetings either.

A few weeks ago official Pristina threatened that it would leave CEFTA if presented as UNMIK.

Officially, Kosovo became CEFTA member in 2007. At that time, the status of Kosovo was not resolved yet, therefore the agreement was signed by the then UNMIK chief Joachim Rücker, and it was presented under the name of UNMIK administration since then, reports FRE.

CEFTA is an international project established by the European Union, with the intention of deepening economic integration of the countries of the region.

Hasani also said that he has requested through the representative of the EU Office to Kosovo, Nataliya Apostolova, help of the EU to change Kosovo’s status at CEFTA.