Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani sought support from German political leaders for Kosovo's aspirations to join international organizations, including the Council of Europe and NATO, reported the Albanian edition of Radio Free Europe, quoted by BTA.
Osmani made these demands during his meetings with German Foreign Minister Analena Berbock and the Chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee in the German Bundestag, Michael Roth.
The President of Kosovo is on a working visit to Germany.
After the meetings, the German foreign service wrote on the social network "X" that Germany supports Kosovo "on the road to the EU", emphasizing also the role of Kosovo in regional integration.
„Regional integration, including in the Western Balkans, requires progress on CEFTA (Central European Free Trade Agreement) and normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. This is what Analena Berbock and Vyosa Osmani discussed today in Berlin”, the German Foreign Service added.
Germany has demanded that Kosovo lift the ban on imports of goods produced in Serbia, as it contradicts the principles of CEFTA, notes Radio Free Europe.
The government of Kosovo banned imports from Serbia in June 2023, saying it threatened the country's security and could lead to arms imports.
The German ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, however, warned that if necessary, the Balkan countries will move forward towards regional cooperation even without the participation of Kosovo.
„Kosovo deserves more support”, wrote on his profile in "X" the chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee in the German Bundestag, Michael Roth, after his meeting with Osmani.
„Kosovo is an encouraging example for the Western Balkans because of its clear commitment to democracy, the rule of law and the fight against corruption. Unfortunately, other countries in the region are moving away from these EU values”, Roth wrote.
During the meetings, Osmani emphasized the importance of cooperation between Kosovo and Germany.
„Germany has long been a staunch ally of Kosovo and in my meeting with Minister Berbok we confirmed the importance of our commitment to cooperation in politics, security and economy, which is mutually beneficial,” Osmani wrote in "X".
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She added that Germany's support is essential for every step on Kosovo's path towards Euro-Atlantic integration.
Kosovo is applying for EU membership in December 2022, but has not yet been granted candidate status. Meanwhile, the application for membership in the Council of Europe was postponed due to the condition of establishing the Union of Serbian Municipalities (USO) in Kosovo, notes Radio Free Europe.
The international community is pushing for Kosovo to create this union, which is part of a 2013 agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, and which would unite the country's Serb-majority municipalities.
The Constitutional Court of Kosovo, however, declared the establishment of the SSO unconstitutional, as it does not include the other ethnic communities and could lead to the exercise of executive power.
Serbia does not recognize the independence of Kosovo, declared in 2008. The two countries are conducting a dialogue to normalize relations under the auspices of the EU.