The European Union has asked Serbia to allow the visits of Kosovan officials to the three municipalities in the south of Serbia, which are announced in accordance with the agreement reached in the dialogue in regards to mutual visits, while requesting that Kosova observes this agreement in the same way.

The EU’s reaction comes after Kosovan Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla, was denied permission to visit the Presheva Valley, the southern municipalities in Serbia, Presheva, Medvegja and Bujanoc, at the beginning of January.

“The visit of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Kosovo, Xhelal Sveçla to Serbia was announced in accordance with the dialogue agreement on official visits. Therefore, Serbia had to allow it and that [visit] should have been realized,” was said in a response of Peter Stano, spokesperson of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security.

Stano also said that “the EU continues to invite both sides should overall and unconditionally, implement all the agreements reached during the dialogue, including the agreements on official visits and freedom of movement”.

“All disagreements must be resolved through dialogue. The EU remains ready to facilitate discussions for the parties to find a solution,” said the EU spokesperson.

On January 4, Sveçla had planned to visit the Presheva Valley. However, the visit was not allowed to take place by the Serbian authorities.

Even in the past, there have been cases when Serbia, but also Kosova, have refused to grant permission for official visits to the respective countries.

On November 27, 2021, the authorities in Serbia rejected the request of four [Kosovan] ministers for a two-day visit to the Presheva Valley.

Earlier, Kosova had also rejected the visit t of the head of the Office for Kosova in the Serbian Government.

In all these cases, the EU had always criticized the parties for refusing to grant permissions for the visits, asking them to allow that such visits take place on the basis of the agreement reached on mutual official visits.

According to the arrangements between Kosova and Serbia in regards to the official visits, reached under the mediation of the EU, these visits must be announced through liaison officers. Meanwhile, the authorities of the respective countries must authorize them.

/a.p./