Serbia might block Kosovo trade
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said it would be “difficult to expect” the free flow of goods and services between Kosovo and Central Serbia if Kosovo unilaterally declared independence.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Monday, November 26, 2007
Jeremic thus hinted at measures Serbia might undertake in case of Kosovo's unilateral proclamation of independence, but refused to go into detail.
The Serbian government has instructed all ministries to make "action plans" that would be implemented in case of unilateral independence. Foreign diplomats fear Belgrade's economic blockade the most, as some 70 percent of Kosovo's trade relies on Serbia proper. An interruption of electricity supplies from Belgrade would strike an additional severe blow to Kosovo, as the province is already suffering severe blackouts that last up to 16 hours a day.
"We have announcements that a number of countries plan to unilaterally acknowledge Kosovo's independence, and as a responsible government we have to be ready for the worst case scenario, although we are doing everything we can to avoid it," Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic commented.
