Kosovo has still not created the preconditions for membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the formal membership process will take a long time.

The World Trade Organization deals with the rules of trade between nations. It has 153 members.

 

According to Berat Rukiqi of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, there should be no illusions about the ease of membership in the WTO. The process requires grueling bilateral talks and agreements with all WTO members.

According to Rukiqi, there are several preconditions, which a country should fulfill, among the most important being single customs control.

"Kosovo could have observer’s status and this takes a minimum of five years. In the region, the best case is that of Croatia which got membership after seven years of negotiations. Therefore we should be ready for a complex, long process," said Rukiqi.

Minister of Trade and Industry at the Government of Kosovo, Lutfi Zharku, says that Kosovo is ready to apply to this organization and will soon do it.

"We have done all preparations for application. The document is ready as well the work group which has dealt with the issues," said Zharku.