Prishtina, 14 March 2011
On the first day of his official visit to Istanbul where he is participating in the World Leaders of Change Summit, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, had a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
In the meeting, both prime minister discuss about the current political and economic situation in the region, with a special focus on further advancing the excellent cooperation between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Turkey in all aspects of bilateral interests.
The Turkish Prime Minister Rexhep Taip Erdogan congratulated Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi on the creation of the new legitimate and credible institutions of Kosovo and promised the support of Turkey in ensuring new recognitions for the state of Kosovo.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Thaçi expressed his appreciation for the support that Turkey has offered Kosovo in its processes of liberation, independence and of development and integration, with emphasis on the continuous support of Turkey in gaining new recognitions of Kosovo and on Turkish investments in Kosovo.
Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi briefed Prime Minister Erdogan on the engagement of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo in the technical dialogue between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia as two independent states and the firm commitment to the European perspective of the Republic of Kosovo.
The Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan too expressed his firm support for the technical dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and highlighting his position that this is the way for both countries to integrate in the European Union.
Talking about the commitment of the new Government’s Cabinet, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, amongst other things said that “the mandate of the new Government’s Cabinet is to promote a sustainable economic development, integration, but above all to advance cooperation with all the countries in the region,” and added that the “Republic of Kosovo welcomes the involvement of Turkey in activities aiming at fostering and strengthening regional cooperation in the Balkans considering it as Kosovo’s strategic partner.”
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, also had another friendly meeting with Mr. Bakir Izetbegovic, member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Current political developments in the region were discussed during the meeting along the need to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the service of the European perspective of the region and other issues of interest.
During the meeting between Prime Minister Thaçi and Mr. Izetbegovic there was discussion on the need to eliminate barriers hindering the free movement of people and goods between the two countries. It was a joint assessment during the meeting that the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina have the potential it takes to cultivate much better relations and a tradition of cooperation.
Prime Minister Thaçi reiterated the vision and the commitment of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo to advance cooperation with all the countries in the region in the service of peace, stability, development and full integration of the region in Euro-Atlantic structures.
Last modified: July 31, 2022