Donika Gërvalla, Kosovo’s acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, has attributed the European Union’s sanctions on Kosovo to former EU High Representative Josep Borrell and former EU Special Envoy for the Kosovo–Serbia Dialogue, Miroslav Lajčak.
Speaking on the program “DPT te Fidani” on Klan Kosova, Gërvalla said the EU measures were imposed following an incident in northern Kosovo, where KFOR troops were injured by individuals allegedly directed by Serbia.
“The measures were taken when hooligans from Serbia, together with some of our citizens in the north, attacked NATO soldiers. Hungarian and Italian troops were injured, some seriously, with limbs that had to be amputated. Instead of holding those responsible accountable, the European Union decided to impose measures on Kosovo,” Gërvalla stated.
She added that the sanctions reflected unacceptable pressure on Kosovo during negotiations:
“It was an inexplicable situation, in which Borrell and Lajčak believed all discussions with Kosovo should be conducted under unacceptable pressure.”
When asked whether the sanctions were effectively a “gift” from Lajčak and Borrell, Gërvalla replied:
“Yes, absolutely. They were done via an email, which nobody opposed at the time.”
Gërvalla also noted that the new EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, is now working to lift the EU measures against Kosovo.
