Washington, 11 June 2013
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, was received at the State Department by the Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. William Burns
At the beginning, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, Prime Minister Thaçi thanked Deputy Secretary of State Burns for the continual assistance and role of the United States of America in supporting Kosovo at decisive moments, in the past and now, during the consolidation of the new state.
Prime Minister Thaçi informed Deputy Secretary Burns about the Agreement on normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia, reached in Brussels, and he said that this agreement must begin to be implemented by both parties.
Throughout the entire process of reaching the Brussels Agreement, the United States of America has not just been a supporter, but also a guarantor of the agreement reached, between two countries with an old conflict, which is in the interest of the two countries that independently aim to integrate into the Euro-Atlantic institutions. The help of the US has always been decisive, said Prime Minister Thaçi.
Prime Minister Thaçi said that Kosovo is ready to start implementing this Agreement, by making legislative changes which will be approved in the Kosovo Assembly. The Kosovo Government is sending a message to the citizens in the north, about improving their lives in that part of Kosovo.
In the meeting, Prime Minister Thaçi talked about Kosovo’s agenda regarding international recognition, and he thanked the US administration for its contribution to the recognition of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state by many countries in the world.
Talking about the European perspective of Kosovo, Prime Minister Thaçi told Mr. Burns that Kosovo is not seeking its EU future on the basis of moral principles, but by fulfilling specific criteria. Kosovo’s citizens are the only ones in the region which require visas to travel to the EU.
The Kosovo Government will work toward meeting all criteria in order to become part of EU and NATO institutions, producing reasons for the US to support them, said among other comments, Prime Minister Thaçi.
The Deputy Secretary of State Burns expressed appreciation for the Kosovo Government and Prime Minister Thaçi for reaching the Agreement and expressed his trust that implementation will start. Deputy Secretary Burns promised the support of the US for the Agreement reached, and said that in the future, the US will continue to contribute toward the agreement’s implementation.
In addition, Deputy Secretary Burns emphasized that the US supports Kosovo’s European integration agenda and will contribute toward increasing recognition of Kosovo’s independence.
In the meeting with Deputy Secretary Burns, Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj and Minister of European Integration, Vlora Çitaku, were also present.
Last modified: July 31, 2022