Spahiu: It is unacceptable to deny Vucic a visit to Kosovo

University professor Nexhmedin Spahiu, discussing the frequent bans by Pristina on Serbian officials visiting Kosovo, says for Kosovo Online that it is not normal to disrupt the regular flow of official visits despite existing agreements between the two sides and that denying Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic entry would be unacceptable.

The announcement by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the beginning of the year about visiting Kosovo stirred discontent in certain circles in Kosovo. Entry to Kosovo was banned for a Tanjug journalist in January, prior to that for his RTS colleague, countless times for the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic, ministers of the Government of Serbia, Arnaud Gouillon...

Spahiu says he cannot comprehend why this has been done in individual cases but emphasizes that it is not a good thing.

"In general, it's not a good thing, especially for President Vucic's visit to Kosovo. If negotiations continue to address the many issues affecting Kosovo-Serbia relations, then banning President Vucic's entry is entirely unacceptable," he said.

Another issue, he says, is that sometimes the opportunity for visits is abused.

Spahiu also commented on Serbia not approving a visit by Kosovo's Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, to Presevo, Bujanovac, and Medvedja in early January.

"I cannot understand what the Minister of Internal Affairs of Kosovo was seeking in the 'Presevo Valley,' unless there are family ties. If it were the Minister of Culture or Foreign Affairs, then it would be understandable. Why the Minister of Internal Affairs in this case? There are many cases where the ban is indeed entirely unacceptable. Why this is being done, you should ask leaders in Belgrade and Pristina because, in my opinion, it is simply incomprehensible, and I don't understand it," Spahiu noted.