Pristina, 4 November 2014
Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci participated in the First Regional Conference on the topic “Border Security” organized by the Customs and Kosovo Police, held in the hotel “Swiss Diamond” in Pristina.
The following is the full statement of Prime Minister Thaçi:
Honourable Ambassador Jacobson,
Dear Ministers
Police and Customs representatives of the region
Dear guests
Allow me to start by wishing you a warm welcome in the Republic of Kosovo and wishing you good luck during this conference, which being held in a very significant moment for Kosovo and the entire region.
This is the time when borders are becoming from dividing lines into lines of communication and cooperation. We cannot escape from our history, but we can learn from it. The fact that today, we stand here, in Pristina, together from whole the region, to discuss common concerns of the security sector, indicates that this change in our approach has begun to come true
The Republic of Kosovo has made significant progress in deepening cooperation with its neighbours. The Republic of Kosovo has signed and ratified 22 bilateral agreements with countries in the region in the field of border security and 11 other international agreements in the field of customs cooperation. The Republic of Kosovo has continued to increase that capacity to deal with security challenges and to face the dangers from organized crime that knows neither borders nor nationalities. These phenomena are slowing us in our journey towards the European family where we belong as the region.
It is essential to let aside our differences and expand cooperation as a condition for peace and prosperity in our region, our home. For democracy and open society it is important the borders to be open in order to develop and realize the potential of our citizens.
Kosovo citizens should be able to move freely in the European family, because freedom of movement increases our security, increase understanding between our peoples, remove prejudices, and empowers as one. Thanks to regional cooperation, our European future began to get its shape. Our security comes not through bunkerization of our borders, but by strengthening trust between our countries and peoples.
We are gathered here today, almost all from the region, and I believe that in the future meetings will be representatives of Serbia, because after Brussels Agreement, I believe that all the possibilities and possible areas of cooperation, communication which are in the interest of all countries and peoples of the region are opened
Cooperation between our countries, as equal partners, is at the highest level among the countries of the region, and this is due to commitment of the European Union and the United States of America.
Therefore, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, I thank the representatives of the United States of America and the European Union, for both the presence and support.
And finally let me encourage everyone to see security as an opportunity to increase cooperation.
Thank you and I wish you success during this meeting.
