Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama supported Kosovo’s decision to implement reciprocity measures with Serbia during a press conference wit Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, on Monday (1 August).
“The events of yesterday reflect the difficult relationship [between Serbia and Kosovo], but the implementation of the agreement reached in Brussels is the right and duty of Kosovo and I support the government of Kosovo 100 percent, just as I congratulate Prime Minister Kurti for his sense of self-restraint and for listening to allies who suggested a postponement,” Rama said.
In June, the government of Albin Kurti announced it would implement reciprocal measures on those travelling from Serbia to Kosovo, including requiring additional travel documents and replacing Serbian plates for temporary Kosovo plates. These mirror the requirements on those travelling from Kosovo to Serbia.
Last evening, however, Kosovo postponed implementation following tensions in the northern part of the country and following a request from EU and US representatives.
“The Government of Kosovo has the right and the duty to implement agreements and exercise its territorial sovereignty and independence,” Rama said about the situation, while calling on Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic to restrain fueling dissent with ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo.
Rama also stated that Spain’s decision not to recognize Kosovo’s independence is understandable given its history, and does not amount to discrimination against Albanians.
“The unilateral declaration of independence violates international law,” Sanchez reiterated, after making a similar statement during his visit to Belgrade on Saturday.
The International Court of Justice at The Hague declared Kosovo’s independence legal in July 2010.
Spain is one of five European Union that have yet to recognize Kosovo, along with Romania, Slovakia, Cyprus and Greece.
