Pristina is considering whether to force visitors from Bosnia and Herzegovina to obtain entry visas because Sarajevo insists that travellers from Kosovo have visas.

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, will propose that the government impose a visa regime on travellers from Bosnia in response to Sarajevo’s continued insistence on entry visas, the ministry told Balkan Insight.

“After a six-year-long blockade which the authorities in Bosnia applied to people from Kosovo, minister Hoxhaj will ask the government to apply reciprocal measures for Bosnia,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Artan Behrami.

“Once the decision is taken, citizens of Bosnia can be provided with a visa by our diplomatic mission in Tirana,” he added.

He said the motion would be submitted to an upcoming government session for consideration, but did not specify exactly when.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only former Yugoslav republic apart from Serbia that has not recognised Kosovo as an independent country.

Pristina also does not have diplomatic relations with Sarajevo.

Bosnia began to recognise Kosovo passports in March 2012, but Kosovo citizens who wish to travel to the country must still pay 31 euro for a visa.

Before that, people from Kosovo who wanted to travel to Bosnia had to obtain special permission to travel using UN Mission in Kosovo identity papers./balkaninsight