Kosovo’s Prime Minister-in-waiting Albin Kurti has reconfirmed his commitment for a “principled dialogue” with Serbia, following a meeting in Pristina with EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak on Monday.
“I am not against the dialogue in principle, I am for principled dialogue,” Kurti told journalists after the meeting.
It comes after previous statements that the dialogue will not be the new government’s top priority. Kurti explained that by this he did not deny the relevance of dialogue with Serbia.
Kurti had stated before the elections that the dialogue should aim at improving the lives of citizens in both countries – not at compensating Serbia for the losses inflicted by the genocidal regime of Slobodan Milosevic in the 1990s.
Today he added that he is not under time pressure to start the dialogue, as election results are yet to be certified and the new government needs to form first.
No date for the resumption of the dialogue was discussed with Lajcak, Kurti said.
Lajcak arrived in Pristina on Monday for a 3-day visit, following the February 14 elections won by Kurti’s Vetevendosje Party. He is then expected to visit Belgrade.
Commenting on Kurti’s statement regarding the dialogue not being his top priority, the EU envoy told Tanjug it should not be dramatized, Koha reported. He added that Kurti is aware of people’s expectations that he should address the issue of corruption, economic problems, and rule of law.
Lajcak will meet with Kosovo’s Acting President Vjosa Osmani on Tuesday morning.
