Shahini: Serbia should preside over CEFTA as a serious state; unilateral moves should be penalized

Serbia needs to exercise caution and preside over CEFTA as a serious state, Kosovo Business Alliance President Agim Shahini says, emphasizing that any member violating agreements within this organization and taking unilateral measures against others must be penalized.

Commenting on Serbia assuming the CEFTA presidency on January 1, amidst the organization's political disagreements and unilateral actions, such as the decision by the government in Pristina to block the import of Serbian goods to Kosovo, Shahini stated that he believed CEFTA was the best regional organization focusing on the free movement of goods, capital, and people.

"However, sometimes it loses its purpose because a country takes unilateral measures that block another country, and so on. I think that regardless of the situation, Serbia needs to be cautious and preside over CEFTA as a serious state and as a country that already knows how to cooperate with various organizations, including international organizations like CEFTA," Shahini said.

Shahini is confident that there are significant chances for the initiative to revive, but he points out that it depends largely on good relations among the members.

"Everything within the countries that are in CEFTA is always spoiled by politics, and CEFTA is an economic organization. Politics should be separated from the economy, and the economy should develop without any problems," he emphasized.

Disagreements between members should be resolved within the CEFTA council, according to Shahini, and if they take measures against each other, they should be sanctioned.

"I believe that if there is any mutual misunderstanding, it should be resolved within the CEFTA council, but no country should take any measures against another country. If that happens, every country should be penalized," Shahini concluded.