The Federal Government of Germany considers Kosovo PM Albin Kurti’s move on partial revocation of tax on Serbian goods as a first step towards complete abolishment of tariffs. Kurti’s plans to revoke raw material tariffs on Serbian imports as of 15 March was not supported by the United States, whereas the European Union welcomed the move.
Kurti proposed on Thursday suspension of tariffs on raw materials from Serbia as of 15 March asking in exchange Serbia stop its campaign against Kosovo by convincing countries which have recognized Kosovo to revoke their recognition. Kurti said that if Serbia stops its campaign against Kosovo, his Government will abolish the tariffs on Serbian goods as of 1 April. On the contrary, if Serbia continues its campaign against Kosovo Kurti warned that Kosovo might reintroduce 100 percent tax in June. Kurti called on the US and EU to serve as guarantors for implementing his proposal. He also urged the EU to liberalise visas for Kosovo citizens before May summit of the EU leaders in Zagreb, Croatia.
A spokesperson to the German Government headed by Chancellor Angela Merkel in a statement to Gazeta Express said Kurti’s move is the first step towards complete revocation of 100 percent tax. “The Federal Government sees this as a first step towards a complete abolishment of the 100% tax imposed by Kosovo on Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, which must remain our goal. In our point of view, it is important that the Kosovo government agrees on a common approach,” a spokesperson of the German Government told Gazeta Express.
The European Union on Friday issued a statement welcoming Kurti’s proposal. However, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Richard Grenell, reacting in Twitter said the US will not support Kurti’s “half measures.”
“We do not support Prime Minister Kurti’s half measure. Our position is quite clear: the tariffs must be completely dropped. Mr Kurti is making a serious mistake – and that was made clear to President Thaci at the White House today,” Grenell wrote in Twitter. Kosovo president Thaci said Friday that Kurti’s stubbornness is seriously harming Kosovo-US relations and urged the Government to immediately and unconditionally revoke tariffs. Also Kurti’s deputy, who is member of LDK – a coalition partner with the Vetevendosje, Avdullah Hoti, said his party will not stay in a government that puts into question relations of Kosovo with Washington. Kurti’s move was also criticised by former prime minister Ramush Haradinaj who in November 2018 introduced tariffs to counter Serbia’s aggressive campaign against Kosovo’s statehood. /GazetaExpress/
