PRISTINA (Kosovo), February 4 (SeeNews) – The swift resumption of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia facilitated by the EU will help achieve a comprehensive normalisation of relations, the EU high representative Josep Borrell said on Tuesday.
“The current status quo is not tenable. There is no alternative to a rapid resumption of the normalisation talks between Belgrade and Pristina,” Borrell said in a statement published by the EU office in Kosovo to welcome the vote of the Kosovo assembly confirming the new government led by prime minister Albin Kurti.
“With the government now in place, I look forward to intensifying our discussions and cooperation on EU-Kosovo relations, on reforms and on the EU-facilitated dialogue,” Borrell said, adding that the EU remains committed to working with Kosovo's institutions and people to move forward on the European path.
The EU high representative also said that Kosovo must enhance regional cooperation, as well as good neighbourly relations. “We also need to see renewed engagement of Kosovo in regional initiatives and cooperation structures for the benefit of Kosovo.”
On Monday, the leader of Kosovo’s left-wing Self-Determination Movement (VV), Albin Kurti, took office as prime minister late on Monday after securing the support of 66 of the 120 members of parliament, parliament said.
The vote took place after on Sunday VV, the winner of Kosovo’s October 6 snap election, agreed to form a coalition government with the second-ranked centre-right Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). VV controls 29 seats in parliament and LDK has 28 MPs.
During his speech in parliament, Kurti said he is ready to resume talks with Serbia with a professional team.
Serbia withdrew from talks on the normalisation with Kosovo in November 2018, when Pristina decided to impose a tax on imports of all goods produced in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kosovo's government increased the import tax on all goods produced in Serbia and Bosnia to 100%.