Prishtina, 9 July 2013
Chaired by the Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo held its regular meeting in which it approved draft laws deriving from the Visa Liberalization Roadmap, as well as other decisions within its field of constitutional and legal responsibilities.
The following is the full text of the speech at the start the government meeting, made by Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi:
Allow me, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo to emphasize that the NATO North Atlantic Council has stated that the Kosovo Security Force has reached full operational capacities and is entirely capable of executing its specific mandate, according to NATO standards.
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo I congratulate all members of the Kosovo Security Force on taking this very important step for our country.
Also, I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, to thank all KFOR soldiers for everything they have done to help build the Kosovo Security Force.
KFOR will continue to be present in Kosovo, as was emphasized in the last meeting I held with the Secretary General Rasmussen a few days ago, in order to provide a secure and peaceful environment for all citizens living in Kosovo, which the Government of the Republic of Kosovo appreciates greatly.
The Kosovo Security Force mission remains the same, as it was up to now, undertaking civil protection operations and helping civil authorities to respond to natural catastrophes and other emergencies.
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo also welcomes and thanks NATO for its commitment and for continuing to offer support and advice through its NATO advisory liaison team, which will still be present in the KSF, so that it fulfills the NATO vision of a region integrated in Euro-Atlantic structures.
So, today’s decision is very important to us, it is a new chapter of development for the KSF, because Kosovo shares the NATO vision of a future where the Western Balkans is integrated in Euro-Atlantic structures. This is a chapter of KSF progress.
In addition, I would like to emphasize that the Kosovo Security Force is a force that has been built from zero, meeting the highest NATO standards and closely cooperating with the NATO team, within the KSF.
So, I would like to use this occasion to invite members of all communities in Kosovo to consider joining the KSF, to ensure that it continues to be a truly multi-ethnic force, representative of all those living in Kosovo.
We are building our security institutions, to give us the capacity to make Kosovo a joint domestic and international success.
Our success is NATO’s success because this success will help NATO fulfill the vision of a Euro-Atlantic future for the Western Balkans.
So, once again I congratulate the government cabinet, all Kosovo’s citizens, on this new achievement for Kosovo, in the process of consolidating and strengthening our country.
At the same time, allow me also to add that yesterday in Brussels the latest meeting was held between me and the Serbian Prime Minister, Mr. Dacic, about two important issues relating to the process of normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia, telecommunications and energy.
I can say openly that the issues discussed yesterday were aligned to the maximum. It remains for some elements in the two agreement texts to be completed or for something to be eluded.
Today, Baroness Ashton will visit Belgrade and tomorrow in the morning, Prishtina, and I hope that in the coming days we will have the agreement of both governments regarding the telecommunications and energy agreement” said Prime Minister Thaçi at the end of his opening speech.
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The meeting of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo continued with the approval of the package of draft laws that derive from the Visa Liberalization Roadmap including the comments and suggestions of the European Commission and this is one of the conditions that the Kosovo Government must fulfill in the visa liberalization process. These draft laws were approved in the meeting:
– The draft law on foreigners which regulates the conditions of entry, movement, stay and employment of foreigners in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo.
– The asylum draft law regulates the conditions and procedures for recognition of refugee status, subsidiary protection, and temporary protection, the status, rights and duties of asylum seekers, persons with refugee status, and persons granted subsidiary and temporary protection.
– The Draft Law on Kosovo citizenship defines the forms of gaining, losing and regaining citizenship of the Republic of Kosovo and it regulates other issues relating to citizenship of the Republic of Kosovo.
– The Draft Law on preventing and combating human trafficking and protecting the victims of trafficking, defines the legal provisions by which the competent domestic authorities have the rights, obligations and responsibilities for:
-preventing and combating human trafficking in all its forms;
-protecting trafficked victims, including ensuring their rights, such as legal and medical assistance, psycho-social support, ensuring compensation for other rights, for all persons who are thought to be or are identified as trafficked, regardless of gender, age, marital status, language, physical or mental incapacity, sexual orientation, nationality, political opinion or conviction, religion or faith, ethnic, social or racial belonging, property, birth or other statuses, and according to a human rights based approach, in full accordance with international human rights instruments and standards;
-national and international cooperation aimed at preventing and combating human trafficking and ensuring assistance and protection for trafficked victims.
– The Draft Law on cooperation between authorities involved in integrated border management.
The purpose of this law is regulating cooperation between all authorities involved in Integrated Border Management and implementing the joint strategies of these authorities, so that the duties foreseen for these authorities and individual measures, such as the prevention, discovery and investigation of illegal criminal activities, control, monitoring and respective international cooperation, are met in the required, effective and efficient manner.
– The Draft Law on amending and supplementing the law on controlling and overseeing the state border, as well as the Draft Law on amending and supplementing the law on financing political subjects.
The Government cabinet approved a decision on starting procedures for membership of the Republic of Kosovo in the organization, “Open Government Partnership” (OGP).
The decision obliges the Minister of European Integration to create a Coordination Working Group for the OGP membership process.
With this decision, the Kosovo Government is required to uphold all obligations deriving from the process and after the Republic of Kosovo joins the OGP.
Last modified: July 31, 2022