On Tuesday, the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, held a joint media conference with the French President, Emmanuel Macron. The topic of visa liberalization for Kosovo was also mentioned at the conference, with the news that France had suspended visa liberalization for Kosovars. 

According to the simultaneous translation from president Macron’s speech,  in the video broadcast on the official profile of PM Rama, Macron said: “I say it very clearly, we trusted them on the issue of visas, the issue has been suspended by France because it concerns with respect to the word given and the word is not being kept. I expect both parties to commit to moving forward in the coming weeks. It is the condition of peace in the whole area”. (1:12:48)

Whereas, according to Radio Free Europe, Macron said that “I want to say one thing very clearly. We have made a gesture of confidence on the issue of visas. As for France, they [visas] have been removed because we respect our word. Today, the word is not being kept. I expect a real commitment from these two authorities [Kosovo and Serbia] to move forward in the coming weeks. This is the very condition for peace in the entire region,”.

Another version of this statement was published in the French newspaper “Le Figaro“.

The translation of the quote used by this newspaper says that Macron said this: “I say this with great clarity, we have made a gesture of confidence on the issue of visas. As far as France is concerned, it is suspended from respecting the word given and the word today is not kept. I am waiting for a real commitment from these two authorities to move forward in the coming weeks. This is the very condition for peace throughout the region.”

A version of this statement was translated by the French language professor at the “Ulpiana” high school in Lipjan, Arianit Murati, for BIRN as follows: “I say it very clearly, we have made a gesture of trust regarding the issue of visas, and it is suspended by France as respect for the word given, so the word given is not being kept. So, I look forward to the re-engagement of these two authorities to move forward in the coming weeks, this is the only condition for peace in the entire region.”

After the spread of the news regarding Macron’s statement, the executive director of the EPIK Institute, Demush Shasha, said that the French president only caused confusion with his statement.

According to Shasha, there is zero possibility that France will unilaterally and independently suspend visa liberalization.

According to him, Kosovo has completed all its tasks and can sit comfortably for the liberalization of visas.

To clarify this issue, BIRN has sent questions to the Embassy of France in Kosovo, the French Presidency and the rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament, Viola Von Cramon, but BIRN has not received answers, by the time of the publication of this article.

The government of Kosovo has not yet officially reacted to Macron’s statement.

However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, Donika Gërvalla, made an ambiguous reaction on “X”[former Twitter]. She wrote in French: “Et voilà.” [And, here is it], accompanying it with the flag of France. France, together with the Netherlands have been blocking the process of visa liberalization for Kosovo since 2018, despite a green light from the European Commission. 

After Macron’s statement regarding the visa issue, the prime minister of Albania, Edi Rama, said that “it would be dramatic for Kosovo” to lose the right to free movement. According to Rama, “Today, Kosovo has entered a trap that it has made for itself, but it has never been better”.