Skopje, 5 August 2024 (MIA) – The official report after the appropriate investigation will fully and in detail shed light on the incident involving Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani that happened on August 2 at the Skopje airport’s VIP terminal, so that we understand exactly what has happened and make sure that such situations never happen again, Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in Skopje on Monday.

"The incident on August 2 at the Skopje Airport was undoubtedly a difficult experience for the President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, who was accompanied by her family and two young daughters. The authorities of North Macedonia, the state leadership expressed their regret for the case and there will be an official report that will shed light on this issue in full and in detail so that we understand exactly what has happened, and make sure that such situations never happen again," Kurti said in response to a reporter's question at Monday's joint press conference with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski. 

Asked if he remains on the assessment that it was a provocation towards Kosovo, Kurti said that was not the official position of the Kosovo institutions.

"I don't know that we have had such a position as institutions, some of the citizens of Kosovo may have said that, but not the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave its own statement which is the position of the Republic of Kosovo, and we also saw the position with a public statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia. I believe that we should aim for the truth, not tensions," Kurti pointed out.

He called for the case to be cleared up, adding that the appropriate authorities will do so.

"Prime Minister Mickoski and I cannot be both customs officials and the police and the police inspectorate and those who supervise the airport, etc. We have given an answer regarding the essence of the question, and measures are being taken," Kurti noted.

When asked if PM Mickoski had apologized to him for the case, because he had previously requested that himself, Kosovo's PM avoided the answer and said that the official report after the appropriate investigation will shed light on the case. 

"Inappropriate behaviour and violation of the rules, all that has been expressed so far, will be clarified by the official report after the appropriate investigation. According to my information and seeing the views of the two ministries of foreign affairs, I am optimistic that such situations will not happen again in the future," said Kurti.

He noted that the two countries have good bilateral relations based on common values, with special reference to European integration.

"Our two countries have bilateral cooperation in all areas. From a diplomatic point of view, we welcome the constant efforts to support our integration in international organizations, especially in the European Council and NATO. We want to have good neighbourly and European relations, both as countries and as nations. We will work together with the new Government in order to strengthen further bilateral cooperation based on trust and mutual interests," Kurti said.

On August 2 at the Skopje airport’s VIP terminal, while Kosovo's President was going through border control and was asked to leave her phone to pass through the scanner, a member of her security team pushed aside the TAV employee to allow her to pass without scanning her phone and hand luggage. However, the luggage was later returned and was scanned, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Osmani’s office in a statement said the Skopje airport security had attempted to confiscate the president’s personal phone calling it “against international practices and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.” 

TAV Macedonia, the operator of the Skopje International Airport, in a statement said it categorically rejects any allegation that its security staff member tried to confiscate the phone of Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani during a screening at the Skopje airport’s VIP terminal.

“They asked for her phone in order to undergo a mandatory security screening through an x-ray device. According to Document 30 of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and the National Program for Civil Aviation Security, all passengers, cabin luggage and their personal items they fly with on commercial flights, such as this one, are subjected to a security screening. If we are not aligned with these rules, the plane’s pilot will not allow the passenger on the plane,” TAV Macedonia said.

Photo: Government