Slovakia's decision to close the Liaison Office in Kosovo is being considered a message that this country - which maintains good relations with Serbia - is far from recognizing Kosovo. According to those familiar with political issues in the country, the decision is related to the anti-Kosovo policy of the Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico.

The Foreign Ministry of Slovakia told KosovaPress that the decision was taken due to the reorganization of the diplomatic network and the "reduction of the budget".

"According to the decision of the Slovak government, the Liaison Office of the Republic of Slovakia in Pristina will be closed until December 31, 2024 due to the reorganization of the diplomatic network and the reduction of the budget," says the written response from Bratislava.

Despite this, the Foreign Ministry of Kosovo told KosovaPress that the country is committed to strengthening relations with the Slovak state.

Slovakia is one of the five bloc countries that does not recognize Kosovo's independence. The other countries are Spain, Cyprus, Greece and Romania.

Slovakia considers Serbia a key partner in the Western Balkans.

The expert on political issues, Melazim Koci, does not rule out the possibility that the decision to close the Liaison Office was made in cooperation with Moscow and Belgrade.

"The power of the prime minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, is completely oriented towards Moscow. I don't hide this recently, despite the fact that they are a member of the European Union and NATO," says Koci.

Koci considers the closure of the Liaison Office in Pristina a step back towards recognition by the Slovak state.

Even Besar Gërgi from the Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS), considers that the decision of the Slovak state is related to the general anti-Kosovo policy.

"There is no doubt that it carries a political message, which is that the Slovak state does not want to have official relations with the Government of Kosovo", he says.

Despite the decision to close, the Foreign Ministry of Kosovo said earlier on Wednesday that the country is committed to strengthening relations with Slovakia, either through "the Liaison Office but also through meetings in other forums at the regional, European and global level".

"Such restructurings of diplomatic networks in accordance with strategic objectives and limited resources are also evident in other countries", it is stated in this response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to NOTIFICATION of the Liaison Office of Slovakia in Pristina, after the closure, citizen services and diplomatic relations will be maintained by Slovak embassies in neighboring countries./Sh. Pajaziti