PRISTINA (Reuters) – The President of Kosovo declined an invitation on Thursday to make a historic first trip to the former champions Serbia, referring to a political crisis that left the young Balkan state without a new government for almost five months.
Atifete Jahjaga had been invited to attend a meeting of the Trilateral Commission in Belgrade, a bi-annual meeting of influential business leaders, academics and policymakers that began on Friday.
The visit would have been the first of a Kosovar head of state since the former Serbian province broke out in 1999 and declared independence in 2008 with the support of the West. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo, but has weakened its policy towards its new neighbor in exchange for closer integration with the European Union.
Jahjaga has led efforts to end a political impasse in Kosovo since the parliamentary elections in early June. The outgoing ruling party and its opponents are at odds over who can form the next government.
“The President has decided not to attend the conference because of the situation in the country and the inability to create new institutions,” said its spokesman, Arber Vllahiu.
The political deadlock in Kosovo has halted legislation and continued to put pressure on the economy. A deadline for the 2015 budget is imminent.
The parties are arguing over the wording of the constitution over who gets the first bite in the formation of a government, and weeks of talks chaired by Jahjaga have so far produced no deal that would prevent another election.
(Adaptation by Matt Robinson and Raissa Kasolowsky)
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