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Kosovar President on a Working Visit to Slovenia

Brdo pri Kranju, 18.7.2011  |  press release


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Slovenian President, Dr Danilo Türk, receives Kosovar President, Ms Atifete Jahjaga (photo: Neboj¹a Tejiæ/STA)The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, today received the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Ms Atifete Jahjaga, who arrived on a two-day working visit to Slovenia. The Slovenian President and his Kosovar counterpart first had a brief one-on-one meeting, followed by plenary talks between the delegations of the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Kosovo, led by both presidents.

President Türk first highlighted the very good relations that exist between Slovenia and Kosovo. Good bilateral cooperation has been confirmed by the working visit of the Slovenian President to Kosovo in December 2009 and by today's return visit to Slovenia paid by the Kosovar President. Dr Türk went on to say that, since Slovenia's recognition of the Republic of Kosovo's independence in March 2008, cooperation between the two countries has been developing well in all areas.

President Jahjaga said that her working visit to Slovenia represents her first bilateral meeting abroad since her appointment to the office of President. She pointed out that she is especially pleased about this fact since Slovenia and its people have always supported Kosovo's endeavours for democratisation, freedom and independence, and kept warning of the Yugoslav Federal Army's aggression and violence towards the nations of the former Yugoslavia.

Slovenian President, Dr Danilo Türk, receives Kosovar President, Ms Atifete Jahjaga (photo: Neboj¹a Tejiæ/STA)The Slovenian president mentioned, among other things, a positive trend in the development of economic relations. Compared to the previous year, trade volumes increased by 12 per cent and currently amount to approximately EUR 90 million. Moreover, Dr Türk called for an improvement in the trade balance. In his view, this improvement could be achieved by additional direct investments by Slovenian companies in Kosovo, the level of which is already now quite high.

President Türk expressed his support for Kosovo's efforts to become part of the European perspective. In his view, Slovenia believes that Kosovo's future lies in the European Union; therefore, he supports all steps taken in this direction. Furthermore, he called on the EU to lay down appropriate technical criteria in order to facilitate the necessary negotiations on visa liberalisation. Slovenia further advocates the establishment of an adequate legal framework for future cooperation between the EU and Kosovo.

The Kosovar president agreed that the future of all the countries in the region rests on their integration into the European Union, Slovenia being among the first to successfully conclude this project. Therefore, Ms Jahjaga and Dr Türk discussed Slovenia's assistance to Kosovo and its people on their path to this goal. The two also focused on the promotion of all forms of bilateral cooperation, the principles behind this cooperation, and the assistance provided to Kosovo regarding its integration into regional and international structures.

Slovenian President, Dr Danilo Türk, receives Kosovar President, Ms Atifete Jahjaga (photo: Neboj¹a Tejiæ/STA)President Türk expressed his wish that Kosovo would continue to play an active role in ensuring the stability of relations in South-East Europe. He recalled that Kosovo also participates in the Brdo process. Moreover, he expressed his hope that Kosovo would be included in this process as much as possible and that its contribution to the development of cooperation in the region would be increasingly constructive and effective.

President Jahjaga also spoke of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which is supported by the European Union. Thus far, this dialogue has resulted in the conclusion of three agreements intended to facilitate the everyday life and freedom of movement of the Serbian and Kosovar people. However, she emphasised that the free integration of Kosovo into the EU should not be conditional on this process, and President Türk agreed with this view. Ms Jahjaga went on to say that this is a good start and that she expects further bilateral agreements to be concluded with Serbia.

On its path to membership of the EU, NATO and the UN, Kosovo will take advantage of the examples of good practice and the experience of other countries such as Slovenia, added President Jahjaga. Moreover, she pointed out that visa liberalisation would be to the benefit of both the people of Kosovo and the EU. The earliest possible integration of Kosovo and all the other countries of the Western Balkans into the EU would, in her view, additionally contribute to stability and peace in the region.

Slovenian President, Dr Danilo Türk, receives Kosovar President, Ms Atifete Jahjaga (photo: Neboj¹a Tejiæ/STA)President Türk took the view that, despite other problems such as the situation in the eurozone and the crisis in North Africa, the issue of Kosovo should rank sufficiently high on the EU priority scale. He highlighted Slovenia's adherence and commitment to the principle that in South-East Europe, everyone should recognise everyone else and everyone should cooperate with everyone else.
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