Headlines - 23.11.2018 (002)

• In letter to ambassadors, PM Haradinaj explains import tax (dailies)
• Haradinaj: Tax to remain in power until Serbia recognizes Kosovo (media)
• Veseli asked for the 100-percent tax on Serbian and Bosnian goods (RTK)
• EU calls on parties to refrain from provocations (Bota Sot/Kosova Sot)
• Moscow: Kosovo has declared trade war on Serbia (media)
• EU takes on role of arbitrator on CEFTA (Koha)
• Kosovo Serbs protest against tax on Serbian goods (RTK)
• Presevo Valley seeks exemption from import tariff (RFE/Zeri)
• KFOR rebuts Serbian President Vucic (Insajderi/Zeri)
• Haradinaj appreciates KFOR’s role in providing security in Kosovo (Epoka)
• KP refutes reports it is confiscating Serbian license plates (Klan Kosova)
• Albanian government opposes 100-percent tax on Serbian goods (Koha)
• Assembly President Veseli to visit U.S. on Monday (Klan Kosova)
• Police confirms arrests in the North related to Ivanovic’s murder (RTK)

In letter to ambassadors, PM Haradinaj explains import tax (dailies)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj has sent a letter to all ambassadors accredited in Kosovo, including the head of the EU Office Nataliya Apostolova, listing the reasons that led the government of Kosovo decide to increase the tariffs on imported goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to 100 percent. In the letter, Haradinaj said 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. Haradinaj said at the Kosovo Assembly that he expects the EU Special Representative 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. http://kryeministri-ks.net/en/kosovo-calls-on-the-international-community-to-support-adherence-to-international-agreements/

 

Haradinaj: Tax to remain in power until Serbia recognizes Kosovo (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said on Thursday that the 100-percent import tax for goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina will remain in power until Serbia recognizes Kosovo. In his speech at the Kosovo Assembly, Haradinaj said: “In our capacity, we will use the rights that we have, we will respect ourselves and those who respect us. The established measures should be permanent until recognition, until Serbia recognizes us. It is not good for Kosovo to suffer until the independence of Kosovo is recognized”. Haradinaj further argued that it is impossible to reach an international agreement of mutual recognition given Serbia’s current approach. He called on businesses not to increase product prices as this could bring many problems to them and Kosovo.

 

Veseli asked for the 100-percent tax on Serbian and Bosnian goods (RTK)

The office of Kosovo Assembly President Kadri Veseli said on Thursday that it was Veseli who asked for a 100-percent tax on goods coming from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The office said several minutes before the decision was made, Prime Minister Haradinaj consulted Veseli and that the initial proposal was a 20-30 percent increase of the tax. Veseli reportedly told Haradinaj: “the 30-percent increase is not serious, and it affects Kosovo. Bear in mind that the prices for citizens can increase. Also, the reactions of the EU and especially the U.S. should be taken into consideration. Decisions should not be made only for populism. If we want to respond to Serbia’s aggression, then it is better to impose a 100 percent tax. But once you decide, there is no going back”. 

 

EU calls on parties to refrain from provocations (Bota Sot/Kosova Sot)

Spokesperson for the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, Maja Kocijancic, said the EU’s message on the Kosovo government’s decision to increase the tax on goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is “clear” in that the EU expects Kosovo to lift the measure. Kocijancic also called on the sides to refrain from provocations and dismissed reports from Pristina accusing Mogherini of bias saying the reaction of Kosovo authorities in this context is not the right thing to do. “Latest actions, measures and statements from Kosovo, and Serbia as well, which have been seen as provocation and insult by the other side, are concerning and do not contribute to dialogue and normalisation of relations,” Kocijancic said.

 

Moscow: Kosovo has declared trade war on Serbia (media)

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that Kosovo’s decision to introduce a 100-percent tax on goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is a declaration of trade war which threatens the situation in the Balkans. “Pristina is in fact waging a trade war within a policy of ethnic cleansing, because the Serb population in the territory is mainly dependent on supplies from central Serbia,” the Ministry said in a statement. “Pristina does not deny that this is revenge for the defeat it suffered at the INTERPOL General Assembly. The European Union, as mediator of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, must convince Kosovo’s authorities to immediately revoke this illegal decision which threatens the situation in the Balkans”.

 

EU takes on role of arbitrator on CEFTA (Koha)

The paper’s Brussels-based correspondent reports that many EU diplomats in Brussels are saying that Kosovo has not acted in the right way by introducing a 100-percent tax on Serbian goods, but they also said they are not sure that the European Union should play the role of arbitrator by saying that this is a violation of the CEFTA agreement. The paper also quotes EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic as saying that “the EU monitors how countries in the region meet their obligations”. She also said that CEFTA is a regional initiative that serves to measure regional cooperation and that therefore she believes that Kosovo has violated these principles.

 

Kosovo Serbs protest against tax on Serbian goods (RTK)

The news website reports that Kosovo Serbs will hold one-hour peaceful protests today in the municipalities of Mitrovica North, Gracanica and Strpce, in opposition to the Kosovo government’s decision to introduce a 100-percent tax on Serbian goods. Serbian media reported that the decision was made on Thursday at the meeting of Kosovo Serb political representatives with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade. Marko Djuric, head of the Serbian government’s Office for Kosovo, told media that they will work around the clock with Serbs in Kosovo in order to resolve the issue. Kosovo Serbs have also warned they might block roads.

 

Presevo Valley seeks exemption from import tariff (RFE/Zeri)

Political and business representatives in the three municipalities of the Presevo Valley have expressed support for the Kosovo government’s decision to introduce a 100 percent tariff on imports from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina but called on authorities in Pristina to exempt from the decision Albanian-owned businesses from the Valley. Leader of the Albanian Democratic Party and former Presevo mayor, Ragmi Mustafa, told Radio Free Europe that the government of Kosovo ought to look into the possibility of lifting the measure for products of Albanian companies operating in the Presevo Valley region. He said such a move would constitute an act of ‘positive discrimination’ and would enable Albanian-owned businesses in the Presevo Valley to survive.

 

KFOR rebuts Serbian President Vucic (Insajderi/Zeri)

KFOR has rebutted the statement made by President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic in a meeting with Kosovo Serb representatives yesterday that the peacekeeping troops prevented Kosovo Police special units to deploy to the north of Kosovo. KFOR Spokesperson Vincenzo Grasso said for Insajderi that there have been no attempts on the part of Kosovo Police or any of its special units to go to the north. “Therefore, KFOR had not reason to prevent anyone,” Grasso said.

 

Haradinaj appreciates KFOR’s role in providing security in Kosovo (Epoka)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj met yesterday KFOR Commander Major General Salvatore Cuoci and spoke about the current developments in Kosovo. The two concluded that the security situation in Kosovo is good. PM Haradinaj expressed appreciation for the contribution of KFOR in providing a safe and secure environment.

 

KP refutes reports it is confiscating Serbian license plates (Klan Kosova)

Kosovo Police has refuted reports it was confiscating Serbian license plates in different parts of Kosovo. KP spokesperson Daut Hoxha said no such operation was carried out by the police and that media reports claiming otherwise are speculations.

 

Albanian government opposes 100-percent tax on Serbian goods (Koha)

Albanian’s Finance and Economy Minister, Arben Ahmetaj, said on Thursday that the Kosovo government’s decision to introduce a 100-percent tax on Serbian goods is not healthy for the economies of both countries, the paper reports on page three. Ahmetaj argued that Kosovo should not introduce such measures on any country, because it only increases the price of products and is a burden for local consumers.

 

Assembly President Veseli to visit U.S. on Monday (Klan Kosova)

Kosovo Assembly President Kadri Veseli is expected to travel for a several-day visit to the U.S. on Monday, the news website reports. Veseli is scheduled to hold meetings at The White House, State Department, Pentagon, Congress and perhaps also at the CIA. Veseli’s visit takes place at the same time as that of the President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci. According to the news website, they will attend the meetings in Washington together.

 

Police confirms arrests in the North related to Ivanovic’s murder (RTK)

Kosovo Police has confirmed to have detained four individuals in Mitrovica North this morning with the order of the competent Court. Three of them are suspected to for the murder of Serb leader, Oliver Ivanovic, while one of them for resisting to the police. Kosovo Police information office said police raided four locations, while it is continuing with further legal procedures with the detainees in consultation with the competent prosecutor.