Prishtina 5 June 2008
At a working dinner organised last night in Pristina for ambassadors, development agency representatives and international financial institutions, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo presented the Medium-term Framework of Expenditure (Korniza Afatmesme e Shpenzimeve, KASH) 2008-2011 which is the document which will be the basis for the Donor Conference which will be held on 11 July of this year in Brussels.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, gave a speech which is given in full here:
Ambassadors, and other representatives of diplomatic offices, development agencies and international financial institutions.
I have a real pleasure in welcoming you all to this second working dinner.
My colleagues in the Government and I are delighted that we can meet again in this forum, to share with you our vision for the future of Kosovo.
I have to say that Kosovo is very lucky in the wonderful international and bilateral donors that are here in Kosovo, who make us optimistic about the future.
Kosovo has achieved considerable progress in the last nine years.
The security situation is calm and stable, and this gives a powerful message to the world. On 15 June we achieve another important step when our new constitution enters into force.
I have to mention that the last progress report on the legislation from the Ahtisaari package illustrates Kosovo’s commitment to fulfilling our obligations.
Many of the new laws have been approved and agreed, and we are preparing to take over the responsibilities specified in the plan.
With our international partners we are working towards a smooth and successful transfer of responsibilities.
As far as development is concerned, the final destination of Kosovo is naturally in the European Union and in NATO. I therefore thank all donors and other international agencies for their advice in facilitating our route towards integration in the EU and NATO.
In this evening’s meeting we will show you the priorities and concrete policies which we have developed together with you, in partnership. There is no doubt that this partnership and collaboration will enable the finalisation of a Medium-term Framework for Expenditure which is progressive and acceptable to and to us.
All this gives me full faith that the Donor Conference will be a joint success.
With the help of the international community we have already laid the basis of a free market economy and we have an excellent system for managing public sector finance.
The four key priorities that have been identified and agreed by the Government are: economic growth, the successful implementation of the status agreement, good governance, and social stability, which includes reduction of poverty.
We are genuinely aiming for a review of the possibilities for including the private sector in realising many of these priorities because otherwise there is little chance that economic development can move to the level that will allow us to address social issues and put us on the road to the EU.
All that I have to say is that the Government and the people of Kosovo are committed to showing the international community that our new situation, being independent, gives us the chance to have a sense of focus, a sense of our good fortune and our readiness to take the place which the support of our international partners offers us, in the spirit of full collaboration.
At the close of the meeting, Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi once again thanked the participants for their unstinting help and support through suggestions and completion of the document for the Donor Conference.
Prime Minister Thaçi said that we have come to this point together and we will likewise move forward together. The progress that has been achieved is progress achieved jointly between Kosovars and the international community. “Our aim is integration in the European Union and in NATO, as well as our country’s economic development, building a modern state with a strong foundation, and western standards and legal infrastructure, freedom and the affirmation of the values of a multi-ethnic society,” said Prime Minister Thaçi. The Prime Minister of Kosovo also thanked the representatives of the opposition who took part in this meeting and promised that Kosovo would move forward on this road, together with the help of the international community.
Last modified: July 31, 2022