Sarrazin: Progress towards the EU depends on the compromise between Kosovo and Serbia

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has continued to mention the importance of drawing up a joint plan with the internationals for the opening of the Bridge over the Iber, in the meetings she has held with the emissary of Germany for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin, and with the assistant secretary general for operations in NATO, Thomas Goffus. The two senior officials also had meetings with Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who said a day earlier that they are doing their homework and that they are in consultation with internationals for the opening of the Bridge. The German emissary, Sarrazin, said that compromises are required from the parties if they want to achieve progress and benefits within the Berlin Process.

Germany's emissary for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin, and NATO's assistant secretary general for operations, Thomas Goffus, visited Kosovo on Thursday. 

While meetings with state leaders have taken place without the presence of the media, Sarrazin from Pristina Airport has given a brief statement to the media. He did not mention the Ibri Bridge at all, for which internationals have recently expressed concern. He said that compromises are required from the parties, as he related them to the European perspective of Kosovo and Serbia, as well as the Balkan region. 

"I came to Pristina today and next week I will travel throughout the region to prepare concrete results for the citizens of the Western Balkans, to move forward on the right path. But this requires compromise and sometimes the willingness to make concessions, to agree on political agreements, which are not easy for Serbia, and they are not easy for Kosovo either", said Sarrazin.

He expressed concern, as he said, that the countries of the region are still not at the right level to bring concrete results of cooperation within the Berlin Process.

"I'm leaving worried that we're not there yet. If we do not achieve better results on this at the Summit on 14 October, I am concerned that we will not achieve our aim of giving a strong signal that regional cooperation, the regional common market and the Berlin Process are the right format in the region , which can bring concrete results for citizens on the ground", Sarrazin emphasized.

Before leaving, Sarrazin met leaders of institutions and opposition parties. 

Representatives of the opposition issued a notice regarding the discussions held. 

According to the chairman of the LDK, Memli Krasniqi, the topic of discussion was the latest political developments in the region, with special emphasis on those in Kosovo.

"I informed the emissary Sarrazi that the Democratic Party of Kosovo is committed every day, at all levels of decision-making, to give its unreserved contribution to the preservation of the interest of our state. For PDK, good cooperation with international partners in terms of the development and Euro-Atlantic integration of Kosovo is very important", wrote Krasniqi on "Facebook". 

And, the chairman of the LDK, Lumir Abdixhiku, has told the German emissary for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin, that if the LDK takes power in the next elections, it will prioritize the Berlin Process.

"At the Central Headquarters of the LDK, I received the German emissary for the Western Balkans, Mr. Manuel Sarrazin. On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the start of the Berlin Process, we discussed the importance of Kosovo's participation there; and the great economic opportunities flowing for the Republic of Kosovo. As LDK, we fully supported and support this process; as well as we expect from the outgoing Government the fulfillment of the final obligations in this regard without harming our position there", Abdixhiku wrote on Facebook. "From February 9, we will give priority not only to this strategic initiative, where Kosovo has an equal place and role with other states in the region, but also to every other integration and consolidation process that has been stalled for 4 years in a row - first by recovering our burdened position and then advancing towards our historic goals. In my government, state consolidation and the interests of the Republic are not compromised by populist decisions!". 

In addition to Sarazin, NATO Assistant Secretary Thomas Goffus also stayed in Kosovo on Thursday. 

He first met the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, where among the topics of discussion was the Ibri Bridge, the opening of which was announced to Prime Minister Albin Kurti. 

Through a communique, the Presidency said that in the meeting with the NATO official, Osmani spoke about the importance of a joint plan for the opening of the Bridge. 

"She emphasized the importance of cooperation between our institutions and our security partners, especially with NATO, for the drafting of a joint implementation plan for the opening of the Bridge. The opening of the bridge, the first in the country, has been described as an action in the function of normalization and integration in the interest of all citizens, regardless of ethnicity. Osmani said that Kosovo remains committed to continuous cooperation with NATO and KFOR to address challenges in the field of security", he wrote in the Presidency's communique. "She thanked NATO for its commitment to peace, security and stability and in this context reiterated Kosovo's strategic objective of integration into the Euro-Atlantic community, expressing the belief that NATO membership will contribute to the security and stability of the entire region". 

Germany and other QUINT countries have criticized the Government and Prime Minister Kurti for lack of coordination regarding the Bridge issue. They have requested that this issue be discussed in the dialogue mediated by Brussels. 

Meanwhile, the NATO Mission in Kosovo has warned that they will not hesitate to confront anyone who threatens security in the north. 

The other day Prime Minister Kurti said that they are continuing the consultations with the internationals on the issue of the Bridge and at the same time they are doing their "homework" for the opening of the Bridge. He mentioned that they are still waiting for the preliminary report after the tests carried out on the Bridge by a company contracted by the Government of Kosovo.