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SerbianLicense plates, Varhelyi calls on Kosovo and Serbia to avoid unnecessary tensions
EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Oliver Varhelyi urged Kosovo and Serbia to reduce tensions and withdraw from what he called “unilateral actions”, as he said they were never a solution.
“Kosovo and Serbia, it is necessary to restrain and strain the situation, return to dialogue and ensure freedom of movement without delay. Unilateral actions are never the solution. “They only lead to unnecessary tensions and should be withdrawn,” Varhelyi wrote on his Twitter account. Commissioner Varhelyi did not specify which “unilateral actions” were in question.
The decision of the Kosovo authorities to implement reciprocity measures against vehicles with Serbian license plates entering Kosovo has provoked protests by Serb residents in northern Kosovo and harsh reactions from official Belgrade.
Representatives of Serbia say that Kosovo, with this action, has violated the provisions of the Brussels Agreement, which the two countries have reached with the mediation of the European Union.In Pristina they say they are acting in accordance with the Brussels Agreement.
The EU continues to say that the only way to resolve disagreements, including over the use of license plates, is through dialogue.
The EU Special Envoy for Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, has been in Kosovo and Serbia for the past few days, and he has also expressed concern about the tensions created.
According to EU sources, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, also talked about this over the phone with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and the President of Serbia, Alexandar Vucic.
So far, Kosovo citizens with RKS (Republic of Kosovo) license plates, when entering Serbia, have paid about five euros for temporary license plates, which are valid for 60 days.
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said on September 20 that official Pristina did not want to impose reciprocity measures, but there was no other solution, due to the positions of official Belgrade.
/Klara Ruci/
RTI