Kosovo adopts motion regarding ban on products from Serbia

Parliament had supported an opposition motion demanding a renewed ban on products from Serbia.

Kosovo’s parliament on Wednesday adopted a motion calling on the government to introduce a trade ban with Serbia.

In the vote, 42 MPs voted for the motion presented by the opposition Self-Determination (Vetevendosje) group, 33 voted against and two abstained.

The sanctions vote comes after Pristina and Belgrade reached an agreement on control of the country’s volatile northern border with Kosovo.

This involves a system known as Integrated management for crossing points, or, as Kosovo calls it, Integrated Border Management.

This deal is aimed at lowering tensions in Serb-run northern Kosovo where locals have erected tens of roadblocks in protest against the deployment of Kosovo government officials on the border.

Serbia has not allowed products marked “Made in Kosovo” to enter Serbia since the war of 1999. Kosovo says it has belatedly introduced reciprocal measures in response to Serbia’s earlier action.