After the “Student List” visit to Kosovo, Mehmeti calls for institutional oversight of visits from Serbia

The visit to Kosovo by representatives of the “Student List of Serbia” has prompted questions about how they entered the country and the role of local institutions. The delegation included Fegja Dimoviq, a candidate on the list in Serbia. He was joined by Millena Petroviq, Emillija Markoviq and Jugosllav Gashiq from the University of Prishtina, based in North Mitrovica, as well as Nemanja Karoviq.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora (MPJD) said the list’s representatives had not submitted a request for an official visit. The ministry had therefore not approved such a visit.

According to the MPJD, they do not yet hold official positions in Serbian state institutions. They entered Kosovo as ordinary citizens under the general rules and procedures governing the entry and stay of Serbian nationals.

Burim Ramadani, a member of parliament from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), called the visit a serious provocation and asked the institutions to explain how members of the delegation were allowed to enter Kosovo.

Ramadani said that, whether they represent the Student List, Vuçiq, Daçiq, Vulin or anyone else, politicians from Serbia should not be allowed to enter Kosovo to provoke, insult or offend the state of Kosovo.

Commentator Gani Mehmeti also spoke to “Bota sot” about the matter. He expressed concern both about the delegation’s entry into the country and about the response of Kosovo’s institutions.

Mehmeti called on state authorities to monitor movement at the border closely, paying particular attention to crossings between Kosovo and Serbia without overlooking other countries. A lack of oversight, he said, could have various consequences.

He said that, following political developments and elections in Serbia, Kosovo’s institutions should take a firm state position and make no concessions regarding visits from that country.

At the same time, Mehmeti said Kosovo should be ready to cooperate. However, if the “Student List of Serbia” seeks cooperation, he said, it should take place only on the basis of reciprocity and equal relations between states.

The commentator recalled that he had previously called for visits to Kosovo by Serbian officials and representatives to follow the state protocols applied to visitors from other countries.

Under his proposal, the reception should match the level of representation: Kosovo’s president should receive Serbia’s president, Kosovo’s prime minister should receive Serbia’s prime minister, and ministers should be received by their counterparts.

Mehmeti argued that this approach would show that Kosovo functions as a state and is ready to cooperate, while preventing visits that take place without rules or coordination with its institutions.

He proposed that every visit from Serbia begin with an official request, receive approval from the responsible institutions and take place in the presence of a representative of the Republic of Kosovo. He said this should also apply to meetings with Serbs living in Kosovo.

In conclusion, Mehmeti said rules for such visits already exist but are not properly enforced. He called on Serbia to take the same approach to visits by Kosovo representatives and described the way the “Student List of Serbia” visit took place as extremely concerning for Kosovo’s state authorities.