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Germany: We don't need tensions in the Balkans

2023-07-11 07:43:31Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Germany: We don't need tensions in the Balkans
Vucic and Kurti

On the eve of the NATO summit in Vilnius, government circles from Germany have again emphasized the importance of expansion in the Balkans for the geopolitical situation in Europe. During a meeting with journalists in Berlin, on the eve of the NATO summit, a senior official of the German chancellery told DW that Pristina and Belgrade should return to the negotiating table. "Our focus is for both sides to implement what they have promised, especially in Belgrade, but also in Kosovo," said the official, considering the Franco-German plan and the agreement on it in February and March of this year.

The next step is for both parties to be present in the talks led by the EU and then to negotiate constructively for the Association of Municipalities of North Kosovo".

The main focus of the NATO summit will be support for Ukraine. But of course the issue of Kosovo and security in the Balkans will be the subject of talks: "I believe that this summit is a good opportunity for everyone to remember the geopolitical situation: Russia has returned the war to Europe and therefore NATO is increasing its defensive ability. "What we really don't need now is, in this very tense geopolitical situation, to have such tensions in the Balkans that we believe are avoidable," said the official.

In intensive exchange with the prime minister of Albania

The previous warning given by the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, that if Kosovo continues to isolate itself, not meeting the requirements of the EU, a "republic of KFOR" may be created, the official said "that these visions of the Prime Minister of Albania are very distant".

Last week, Germany increased the pressure on Kosovo by temporarily canceling the first three cooperation projects with Kosovo, in accordance with the decision taken by the Council of the European Union for punitive measures against Kosovo. As the German Embassy in Pristina and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin confirmed to DW, it is about three projects that have not yet started.

"These are consultations and cooperation formats in the fields of security cooperation and development cooperation", said the German Ministry, but added that the punishments do not affect "projects with the civil society sector, as well as projects that we have already started to implement". All affected projects can be restarted at any time. A prerequisite for this is the implementation of the necessary measures to improve the situation in the northern municipalities", writes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to DW's question.

DW asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany whether Germany intends to take punitive measures against Serbia, which is refusing to sign the Ohrid Agreement.

In the response of the German Foreign Ministry, it was also stated that "just like Kosovo, we expect Serbia to actively contribute to the escalation of the situation". "Serbia must clearly commit to the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement, which it agreed to at the beginning of this year, and must no longer question its validity and binding nature."

"Given the tense situation - as we did with Kosovo - we are considering, therefore, not only within the EU, but also in the bilateral plan, what measures can be taken against Serbia, for example by suspending projects and formats of cooperation", said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

President Vucic's statements (6.7.) show that both Kosovo and Serbia are currently preventing the escalation of the situation to the same extent, the statement further stated.

The Serbian President, Aleksandar Vučić, announced last week, 6.7.2023, that he is considering the possibility of signing a decision next week to ban the further export of ammunition from Serbia, as well as any weapons.

Ischinger: I am against sanctions

The policy of sanctions against Kosovo has been criticized a lot by experts and connoisseurs of the Balkans. The former German ambassador and expert on the Balkans, Wolfgang Ischinger, in a meeting held with accredited foreign journalists in Berlin, expressed his skepticism towards this method.

"I am not for such punitive actions. I think that the European Union should take care that our decisions on sanctions, as it was done before against Poland or Hungary, do not bring counterproductive results". Ischigner said that these could bring unnecessary antagonism to EU cooperation. He said that he himself is for rewards, instead of punishment. Therefore, I would also propose to Mr. Borrel or Lajçak to make a list of rewards for those who cooperate, those who don't cooperate get nothing".

Ischinger also said that the countries of the Western Balkans should enter the EU before Ukraine.

"We cannot further damage the credibility (which is already damaged) of the region towards the European Union", said Ischinger, who recalled that exactly 20 years ago the six countries of the Western Balkans were told that they belong to the EU. Now 20 years have passed, nothing has happened, the disappointment is great," Ischinger answered DW's question.


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