Prishtina, 5 July, 2023
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, hosted the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Operations, Thomas Goffus.
Prime Minister Kurti thanked him for the contribution and the necessary role of NATO for the liberation and security of Kosovo. Kosovo with its Western-trained Security Force should become a member of NATO’s Partnership for Peace as soon as possible, the Prime Minister emphasized.
He informed Mr. Goffus about the time frame of events from November 5 of last year when the four mayors in the municipalities in the north of Kosovo resigned, and said that he is committed to de-escalation and normalization.
The rule of law, the absence of violent protests and criminal activities and early elections are the way forward towards de-escalation and for this the government is maximally committed. However, the negative measures of the European Union towards Kosovo as the most democratic country in the Western Balkans, which has sanctioned the Russian aggression in Ukraine and which is in harmony with the EU’s foreign policy, have created asymmetry in the dialogue, the Prime Minister emphasized.
He also raised concern about the lack of clarity provided by KFOR about the event of June 14, 2023, when three Kosovo Police officers were kidnapped, despite ample evidence provided by Kosovo institutions. He also raised concerns about reports that weapons were smuggled into Serbian Orthodox churches through ambulances.
The Prime Minister said that the Government of Kosovo is committed to full cooperation and coordination with the NATO mission, KFOR, and that information sharing and good coordination should contribute to the rule of law in northern Kosovo as well and improving the security situation.
Also present at this joint meeting were the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Major General Mattew J. Van Wgenen, the Chief of NATO’s current operations, Mrs. Ariella Viehe, KFOR Commander, Major General Angelo Michele Ristuccia, Chief of Staff at KFOR Command, Giuseppe Sgueglia, Director General of the Kosovo Police, Gazmend Hoxha, Colonel of the Kosovo Security Force, Ejup Macedonci, the adviser to the Prime Minister, Jeton Zulfaj and the senior executive assistant to the Prime Minister, Valë Gjonbalaj.
Last modified: July 6, 2023