Kosovo govt lifts some measures on Serb goods to improve ties

The new Kosovo government on Saturday lifted some recently imposed measures on Serb goods entering the country, in an effort to resume dialogue and improve ties with its neighbour. The decision was among the first taken by Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti’s cabinet of the center-right Democratic League of Kosovo, or LDK.

Hoti’s predecessor, Albin Kurti, introduced the “reciprocity” measures a few days before leaving office. These require Serbian authorities to apply the same documentation standards on goods exported to Kosovo as they require for Kosovar goods entering Serbia.

The move had replaced a 100% tariff imposed on Serb and Bosnian goods in 2018, but both actions were opposed by Serbia, which considered them obstacles to dialogue.

The LDK's governing coalition includes three smaller ethnic Albanian parties, Kosovo's ethnic Serb minority party and other minority lawmakers.

Resuming the European Union-facilitated dialogue over ties between Kosovo and Serbia remains a top challenge. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Saturday the lifting of the trade barriers paved the way for progress in diplomatic relations.

Hoti wants the United States and the European Union to be involved in the talks and help guarantee the implementation of any deal that comes out of them.

Kosovo was part of Serbia until an armed uprising in 1998-1999 by the ethnic Albanian majority population triggered a bloody Serb crackdown. A NATO bombing campaign to force Serbia’s troops out of Kosovo ended the war. Serbia refuses to recognise Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence.

(Image credit: Representative Image)