The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo and outgoing Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said on Tuesday that Pristina’s 100 percent import duties on goods from Serbia and Bosnia should not be abolished but heighten, the FoNet news agency reported.

He told the media in Kosovo during the campaign ahead of the early general elections on Sunday, that “we had to ask for something as a victim – the recognition, plus an apology and reparations (for damages done during the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo), while what’s happening with us is quite the opposite.”

“It’s a huge anomaly when Serbia asks for something,” Haradinaj said, as quoted by the Fena news agency.

He added he showed “who is the boss” while being Prime Minister since he “managed to prevent the idea on the territory swap (between Kosovo and Serbia)” and launched the process of forming the army and the Law on Trepca (contested mine complex).”

“The tariffs are an instrument in creating a balance for the recognition (of Kosovo’s independence by Belgrade). We have to strengthen it to trigger mutual recognitions.  

The tariffs were introduced last November, and since then the Belgrade – Pristina dialogue on the normalisation of relations has been on hold.

Pristina refuses to lift the taxes despite the pressure from the US and the European Union, while Belgrade says it won't resume the dialogue as long as the tariffs are in place.