Osmani: Open Balkan can be taken seriously only when Serbia recognizes Kosovo

Photo: Tanjug/AP/Visar Kryeziu

President of the Provisional Institutions of Pristina Vjosa Osmani said on Thursday in Pristina that the "militarization of Serbia" shows the intentions of President Aleksandar Vucic, and that the Open Balkan initiative can be taken seriously only when "Serbia recognizes Kosovo."

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She claims that the Open Balkan initiative "violated the principle of inclusiveness and equal regional treatment."

Osmani told at a joint press conference with Croatian President Zoran Milanovic in Pristina that "Kosovo insists that regional cooperation continues within the Berlin Process."

"As long as Serbia has a key role in this process and has not recognized Kosovo, we cannot expect Vucic to have good intentions in relation to our country and region. Because the militarization of Serbia itself shows what its real goal is," said Osmani and added that "I can take it seriously, only when Serbia recognizes Kosovo."

She also said that she hoped for further support of Zagreb on so-called Kosovo's Euro-Atlantic path, as well as that this is a "difficult, but the only way for Kosovo as an independent state from which there is no return." She added that Pristina can learn a lot from Croatia, which is a member of the EU and NATO.

She also stated that she would work on further progress through further bilateral cooperation with Croatia, that they have 30 signed agreements so far, and that some will be signed soon.

"We are interested in achieving progress in foreign and defense policy, the two countries have historical ties and have room for better trade cooperation," said Osmani, adding that Pristina considers Milanovic's visit as an "important step in strengthening relations between the two countries and two peoples."

Milanovic arrived on a two-day visit to Pristin, where he met with Osmani, and will speak to Prime Minister of the Provisional Institutions of Pristina Albin Kurti.

The Croatian president will meet with residents of Janjevo, where the majority of Croats live. Milanovic will spend Gregorian calendar Christmas Eve with members of the Croatian army in the KFOR mission in Kosovo and Metohija.

(Telegraf.rs)