Kurti starts his visit to Sarajevo today, the ministers from Republika Srpska boycott the meeting

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, on the afternoon of December 5, started his visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The news for Radio Free Europe was confirmed by Elvira Dushi, president of the Albanian community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

During his stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kurti will participate in a conference of the non-governmental organization "Association of Independent Intellectuals Krug 99".

According to the leader of this organization, Adil Kullenovic, the Kosovar Prime Minister will deliver a speech at this conference.

The visit was also confirmed on Thursday by the Government of Kosovo, which said in an announcement that Kurti will stay for a short visit in Sarajevo, where he will have meetings with representatives of institutions and political representatives, as well as participate in an organization of the non-governmental organization "Association of Independent Intellectuals Krug 99".

"This trip of the Prime Minister to Bosnia and Herzegovina was planned to take place within the framework of his participation in the Summit of Leaders of the Western Balkans and the European Union, which was planned to be held on December 4 and 5 in Neum. Due to some problems that the organizer has already made known, this summit has been canceled," the Kosovo Government told Radio Free Europe.

During this visit, the police in Bosnia and Herzegovina are taking care of Kurt's safety.

Due to Kurti's visit to Sarajevo, earlier on December 5, the ministers from Republika Srpska (RS) said that they will not participate in the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BeH).

The Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Stasha Kosharac, said that the decision was taken after consultations in his cabinet, where the Minister of Finance in the Council of Ministers, Srxhan Amixhic, the Deputy Minister of Defense, Aleksandar Goganovic, the Deputy Minister of Civil Affairs, Marijana Mujic, and Deputy Minister of Communications and Transport, Ognjen Janjiq.

Kurti was expected to participate in the summit of the leaders of the Western Balkans and the European Union, but the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina has decided to cancel this summit, because the tender for the organization of this event has failed.

The president of the Serbian entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, declared that Kurt's arrival in Sarajevo will complicate the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"BiH has not recognized Kosovo. We will not allow Albanians from that region to enter with an ID card," said Dodik, according to SRNA's report.

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo have not recognized each other due to the opposition of Republika Srpska, headed by Dodik, who has a pro-Russian orientation and is sanctioned by the United States for undermining the Dayton Agreement.

Kurti had declared in mid-October, during the summit of the Berlin Process, that from January 1, 2025, Kosovo will allow the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to enter with ID.

The agreement that would remove the visa regime between Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina and would enable the citizens of these two countries to travel without visas, has not yet been ratified in the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It is being blocked by the representatives of the Republika Srpska, led by the League of Independent Social Democrats and Milorad Dodiku./ REL