Kosovo will enable autos with Serbian license plates to enter its territory with out overlaying up nationwide symbols, following Belgrade’s lead, ending a prolonged dispute over the problem.
With Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia, which Belgrade together with key allies Russia and China refuses to acknowledge, automotive plates turned a flashpoint over their show of nationwide symbols.
Until now, autos from both Kosovo or Serbia may cross the border provided that they used stickers to cover the symbols, opposed by each former conflict foes.
At a authorities assembly late Thursday, the Kosovo management “approved the decision to remove the paper stickers or stickers regime for cars with Serbian license plates,” an official assertion mentioned.
The resolution was “an act of good neighborliness and comes after full recognition of the number plates of the Republic of Kosovo by Serbia,” it added.
The head of Serbia’s workplace for Kosovo, Petar Petkovic, instructed public broadcaster RTS on Monday that Belgrade’s initiative would “enable freedom of movement to all vehicles” from Kosovo.
The resolution was to start to be carried out from January 1, Petkovic mentioned, however he underlined {that a} “disclaimer” could be posted at each border crossing.
“Allowing all vehicles to enter … is purely a practical decision… and cannot be interpreted as recognizing the unilaterally declared independence of so-called Kosovo,” he mentioned.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti mentioned he was knowledgeable by the police that there’s “full implementation of the process” by Serbia.
“Therefore, based on the principle of reciprocity as a premise for the regulation of relations between independent states, last night we made a decision to allow the entry of vehicles crossing the border with Serbian license plates,” Kurti mentioned on Facebook on Friday.
In 2022, Kosovo pulled again from a controversial plan to penalize drivers who didn’t swap car license plates issued by Belgrade for these from Pristina.
Kosovo’s Serb minority – which stays loyal to Belgrade and nonetheless considers itself part of Serbia – reacted first, quitting the native administration in Serb-majority north Kosovo after which establishing roadblocks, often clashing with the police.
But since then, “99%” of Kosovo Serbs voluntarily swapped license plates for Pristina-issued ones, the Serbian
authorities mentioned.
An settlement to mutually acknowledge license plates was struck in 2021 below an EU-negotiated deal, but it surely had not been carried out.
Kurti had insisted that license plates issued by Serbia violated the sovereignty of Kosovo.
But, after Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic introduced the tip of the “sticker regime” in December, Kosovo mentioned it could “wait and see” if Serbia actually did abandon the coverage.
Even although this is without doubt one of the few breakthrough offers to be carried out between neighbors, the rhetoric of the officers remained combative.
The head of Serbia’s Office for Kosovo on Friday commented on Kosovo’s resolution to comply with Serbia’s lead on license plates by saying that Kurti “has given himself the task of rekindling the flames of hatred and conflict in the region.”
“He does not understand at all that ordinary people in Kosovo … do not want to be hostages of his ideology of hatred, but that they want to live normally and safely,” Petar Petkovic mentioned in a press release.
While Serbia nonetheless formally refuses to acknowledge the independence of Kosovo, it has made a number of concessions as a part of the EU-led dialogue as a way of creating the day-to-day lives of individuals touring or residing throughout the border simpler.
In August of 2022, the same deal was reached when Belgrade acknowledged Kosovo ID playing cards as a legitimate entry doc in Serbia.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
