Haradinaj says Kosovo won’t be pressured

Commenting statements from Washington about sanctions which could be imposed over Pristina’s refusal to revoke the 100 percent tariffs, Haradinaj said that the sanctions do not exist that would force him into revoking the tariffs, adding that pressure has no effect on Kosovo.  

“The tariffs can be endless, permanent until the problem of Kosovo and Serbia is resolved. There are no sanctions which can force us to revoke the tariffs. Not by states or organizations. We should remember where we are coming from, the hardest period we went through. Pressure is not the right language for us, it has no effect,” he told reporters after a session of his cabinet.  

The tariffs will be revoked only after we get guarantees that a final agreement will lead to recognition of Kosovo, he said and added that Pristina’s partners are informed of its views.  

Haradinaj said that conditions should not be set to continue the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue should. “The dialogue started before the tariffs were introduced but it is linked to recognition by Serbia and conditions were never set and that should be the case now and that includes resolving all open questions between two states,” the prime minister said.