Pristina drops the idea of trade embargo
The Kosovo Ministry of Trade and Industry has dropped the idea of blocking imports from Serbia, the Pristina journal Koha Ditore reported.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Only a few days ago, a representative from the provincial government stated that Kosovo was prepared to respond to Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina's blockade with an embargo on imports of their products to Kosovo.
Belgrade and Sarajevo are blocking imports from Kosovo which are using the stamp of an "independent Kosovo state" as they do not recognize the unilateral secession of Pristina.
Serbian exports to its Kosovo province total around EUR 260mn, while import is around EUR 2.2mn.
Bosnian export to the province is around EUR 40mn, while import is very low.
Asked about the possibility of Kosovo introducing an embargo, provincial Prime Minister Hashim Thaci did not wish to give a direct answer.
As part of the preparations for the expected embargo, the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce had signed an agreement on Friday with its counterparts in Albania and north-western, Albanian-populated part of Macedonia, which had undertaken to supply goods that Kosovo now receives from Serbia and Bosnia-Hercegovina.
It is widely believed that replacing Serb products with Albanian and Macedonian ones would not be a commercially viable alternative.
