Skopje, 6 August 2024 (MIA) - The Office of Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani said the way the incident at the Skopje Airport was handled during yesterday's press conference of the two prime ministers is "regrettable", because "it has further contributed to the propaganda against the Republic of Kosovo". 

According to Osmani's Office, what happened at the Skopje Airport was "a clear violation of international rules recognized and applied worldwide, therefore the Presidency expects to be notified of the measures taken regarding these violations".  

"While we appreciate the expression of regret by the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, unfortunately, until now, at no time have the institutions of North Macedonia addressed the issues raised in the protest note related to the violation of customary international law in relation to the Republic of Kosovo, but on the contrary, openly and without any hesitation they have accepted such a violation. For this reason, additional reports and investigations are not needed for any factual situation, because they are completely irrelevant before the public acceptance of the institutions of North Macedonia that such a rule was imposed deliberately, despite the clear requirements of international law," reads the press release of the Office of Kosovo's President. 

The press release notes that "the President of the Republic of Kosovo has never asked to exceed or violate procedures, but to respect international rules, as is done all over the world", and lists most of the countries that President Osmani has visited during her term in office. 

"According to the Constitution of Kosovo, the President of the country represents the state internally and externally. Despite the extremely strict security rules at the airports of the vast majority of the above-mentioned countries, they accept the President of a country as the highest representative of the state and never ask to scan even a personal bag, let alone a phone, a 'full body scan' is required, because this, among other things, would mean that they are treating the head of state - thus the state - as a potential risk for terrorism. In every country we travel to, it is not the President who demands such treatment. This treatment is automatically provided by host countries based on the notification made by our embassies of the President's travel and based on customary international law (binding on all countries)," the press release reads. 

Osmani, it adds, demands respect for the state she represents, i.e. the Republic of Kosovo, and will continue to do so with determination in accordance with the international rules and principles that regulate relations between states. 

The prime ministers of the two countries, Hristijan Mickoski and Albin Kurti, after Monday's meeting in Skopje, said the incident at the Skopje Airport involving Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani will not affect the diplomatic relations between North Macedonia and Kosovo. Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the official report after the appropriate investigation will fully and in detail shed light on the incident involving President Osmani that happened on August 1 at the Skopje airport’s VIP terminal, so that "we understand exactly what has happened and make sure that such situations never happen again". Mickoski voiced assurance that "there will be no individuals above the law" while he is Prime Minister, adding that if the institutions determine that there has been an abuse of power or a criminal offense, the person responsible will face justice. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said criminal charges have been filed against the head of the Department for personal security of the Parliament Speaker and he will be removed from the post. 

On August 1 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: MIA archive