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Berlin wants Pristina tariffs to be revoked, German Ambassador Schieb says (BETA, TV N1)

Berlin would continue to insist that Pristina immediately revokes the 100 percent tariffs imposed on the goods from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, German Ambassador in Belgrade Thomas Schieb told Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, BETA news agency reported.

According to the Serbian Government press statement Brnabic expressed her gratitude for the consistent position of Germany on this issue and underlined that the abolition of tariffs is a precondition for the continuation of negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina.

The opposite views of the US and Germany over Kosovo (RFE, B92)

Radio Free Europe estimates that Germany and the US have found themselves on the opposite sides when it comes to resolving the Kosovo issue.

The process of seeking a solution to the issue of normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo has long been internationalized, but the last year, the US has made a turn, after which seems the view of the Washington administration is considerably different.

Schieb: Pristina to revoke tariffs urgently (FoNet, TV N1)

German Ambassador to Belgrade Thomas Schieb told Serbian Trade and Telecommunications Minister Rasim Ljajic his country pressured Pristina to urgently lift the 100 percent import tariffs on goods from Serbia, FoNet news agency reported.

Schieb added the taxes should be abolished to normalize the trade cooperation in the region and enable the resumption of the Belgrade – Pristina dialogue on normalization of relations, facilitated by the European Union.

Vucic: Position of Serbia different and better, I am proud (Tanjug, B92, RTS)

Following the talks at Munich Security Conference, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic assessed that position of Serbia is better and different, than it was before, adding he is proud of that, Tanjug news agency reports.

Vucic told RTS that the talks he had in Munich were difficult and good, pointing out that Belgrade-Pristina relations became one of the central issues not only for us and the region, but also beyond it.

Asked how Serbia can respond to Edi Rama’s statement that Kosovo is part of Albania, Vucic said “by serious and responsible politics.”

Schieb: Agreement between Belgrade and Pristina to address all open issues (Danas, BETA)

German Ambassador to Serbia, Thomas Schieb said his country together with the European and American partners is explicitly advocating for normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. He also expressed hope the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue would continue soon and that the 2019 would be a year of good news, BETA agency reports.

Ambassador Schieb stressed that only dialogue can lead to a comprehensive, legally binding agreement which is a prerequisite for the EU membership.

"Only America interested in Kosovo, Merkel is dropping out" (VoA, B92)

Donald Trump's administration does not have much time for the Balkans. This is according to Daniel Hamilton, an expert at the School for Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.

According to Voice of America, this prominent connoisseur of European circumstances, is also not convinced that Washington, and even the European capitals will make enough effort to speed up the process of Euro-Atlantic integration of the remaining Western Balkan countries.

“We welcome good relations of Serbia and Russia” (Blic, Tanjug)

Germany and France welcome good relations of Serbia and Russia as long as they do not contradict Serbia’s EU path.

German and French ambassadors to Serbia, Thomas Schieb and Frederic Mondoloni said this in an interview to Belgrade-based daily Blic, adding that Serbia could join the EU by 2025.

French Ambassador Mondoloni noted that Serbian authorities over the last couple of years made visible efforts to invite for visits and welcome leaders from the main partner states.

"It's true, Kosovo must be solved before EU membership" (BETA, B92, Vecernje Novosti)

German Ambassador to Serbia Thomas Schieb says there are no deadlines for Belgrade and Pristina to reach an agreement on normalization of relations.

"We hope that the dialogue on normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina will be restored as soon as possible and that progress will be made," Schieb told Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti, commenting on unofficial information that EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has asked for the dialogue to end by early June.

Serbia-Germany bilateral relations "very good" (Serbian Government, B92)

First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic received on Wednesday Germany's Ambassador to Serbia Thomas Schieb, B92 reports.

The two officials confirmed that the bilateral relations of the two countries are very good and that they are characterized by developed cooperation in all areas, the Serbian Government announced.

More than 40,000 Albanians ready to leave Kosovo – report (B92, Sputnik, Indeksonline.net)

The mass departure from Kosovo shows that nothing has been done over the past two years economy-wise to make people want to stay, Belgrade based portal B92 quotes the Albanian language website indeksonline.net.

According to the website, almost 40,000 people are currently waiting for the German embassy to reply to their applications to be granted working visas, so they can leave Kosovo as soon as possible.