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The office of the President of France Emmanuel Macron has denied the suspension of visa liberalization for Kosovo.
During the press conference with Prime Minister Edi Rama, Macron made a statement that caused a great debate in Tirana and Pristina. From his words it was understood that France has withdrawn from visa liberalization for Kosovo, but in fact it is not so.
It was the Office of the Presidency in France which reacted by saying that the issue of visa liberalization for Kosovo still remains an open possibility.
In a response to the media, Macron's office said that this is a technical process that should be discussed with European partners.
"The president spoke about the tensions between Serbia and Kosovo. He said what our demands were. In this context and taking into account the blockade of Pristina, the president assessed that the issue of visa liberalization remains open. Moreover, it is a technical process and a discussion that must be done with our European partners", reads the response of Macron's cabinet.
Regarding Macron's statement, there have been many reactions and criticisms, a situation that is thought to have forced the president to backtrack and clarify that the statement in question was not about the suspension of visas for Kosovo.
But the possibility is not excluded that this statement is a mistake of the translator, which caused a shock in the politics of Kosovo. This is after the translator conveyed Macron's statement as a suspension of visa liberalization for Kosovo.
However, Radio Free Europe clarified in its translation that Macron did not speak of suspension. But, to keep the word given.
"I want to say one thing very clearly. We have made a gesture of confidence on the issue of visas. As for France, they [visas] have been removed because we respect our word. Today, the word is not being kept. I expect a real commitment from these two authorities, Kosovo and Serbia, to move forward in the coming weeks. This is the very condition for peace in the entire region", declared Macron according to the REL article.
Meanwhile, the translator in Albania said a completely different approach. According to the published quote, it is said that Macron has stated that visas for Kosovo have been suspended by France, as Kosovo was entrusted with the issue of visas, but "the word has not been kept".
"What we expect from the Kosovar and Serbian authorities is simple, the reorganization of the elections in these municipalities where they were held in inappropriate conditions, the participation of Serbs in these elections, the recognition of the association of Serbian municipalities by the Kosovar authorities. I expect President Vucic and the President and Prime Minister of Kosovo to be responsible. We trusted them on the issue of visas and it was suspended by France because it has to do with respecting the word given and the word has not been kept. I expect both sides to commit to move forward in the coming weeks, it is the condition of peace in the entire area", he is quoted as saying in a joint conference with the Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama.
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