Prishtina, 20 April 2023
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, welcomed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Tobias Billström, to the meeting.
Thanking him for the visit, Prime Minister Kurti expressed his gratitude for Sweden’s early support, even before the declaration of Kosovo’s independence, and continued throughout all stages of state building and international consolidation. Including here, the support in the visa liberalization process, which finally received the positive epilogue yesterday, precisely during the Swedish presidency of the Council of the EU, on the occasion of signing the decision of the European Parliament.
Sweden is among the top 5 largest donors in Kosovo, making a valuable contribution to the strengthening of public administration capacities, to the preparation and drafting of policies for equality and environmental protection, and the promotion of democracy and human rights..
The meeting discussed the very good and friendly bilateral relations between Kosovo and Sweden. Prime Minister Kurti informed Minister Billström about the country’s progress and the government’s achievements. He said that Kosovo is a stable partner and friend of Sweden, with which they share common democratic values and a common Euro-Atlantic orientation. Both sides expressed their interest in further rapprochement and deepening of bilateral relations. On this occasion, the importance of the Nordic Economic Chamber, which is expected to be opened soon, and the role it will have in increasing economic cooperation and commercial exchanges, was emphasized.
Further, there was also talk about the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia, the relations between the two countries and the agreements recently reached in Brussels and Ohrid, which have been welcomed and supported by Sweden. Prime Minister Kurti shared with Minister Billström his views from the meetings in Ohrid, the expectations for the next meeting in Brussels and his and the Republic of Kosovo’s position that the Basic Agreement should be implemented fully, unconditionally and immediately.
This was the second time that Minister Billström visited Kosovo in different capacities. The first time was in Kosovo a decade ago.
In this meeting, Prime Minister Kurti was accompanied by the ambassador of Kosovo to Sweden, Shkëndije Geci Sherifi, and his staff. Meanwhile, the Swedish Minister Billström, in addition to his staff, was also accompanied by the Head of the Department for Europe and North America in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Ambassador Veronika Wand-Danielsson and the Ambassador of Sweden to Kosovo, Jonas Westerlund.
Last modified: April 24, 2023