Prishtina, 2 July 2013
The full text of the statement given by Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, after meeting the Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt:
Today, I had the pleasure to meet the Swedish Foreign Minister, Mr. Bildt with whom we discussed recent developments in Kosovo and the region. We have also just met in Zagreb, where we had an excellent conversation.
I can say freely that since the last meeting we held in his office and up to this meeting today, the Balkan region has undergone extraordinary change, in the most positive sense possible.
Croatia’s membership of the European Union is a message for the entire region, followed by the start of the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which is also a message for both our countries and peoples, but also for those beyond. At the same time, the organization of elections with the highest standards ever in Albania is a good message for the region.
Let us return to our own affairs that preoccupy us. It was my pleasure to inform Minister Bildt about the good work being done by Kosovo in the process of normalizing relations with Serbia. We will accomplish all our obligations that derive from this process, including implementation.
The next meeting between the two prime ministers, under the leadership of Baroness Ashton, will occur on July 8, where telecommunications and energy issues will be discussed, and our implementation agenda will continue.
The Kosovo Parliament has just ratified the agreement on normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia and on Thursday, the law on amnesty will be processed. We share a mutual willingness as well as responsibility, as part of these historic and great processes which are occurring, to move more quickly toward a European perspective.
Starting the Stabilization and Association process for Kosovo is a fantastic achievement, setting Kosovo on the track to Europe. We will move fast, we will move as qualitatively as possible. This is a deserved achievement and I strongly believe that in the near future we will also have visa liberalization.
It was a pleasure to inform Minister Bildt about all these achievements in Kosovo, but naturally, also about the challenges.
Honorable Mr. Bildt, we are preparing this autumn to organize local elections for the first time on one day across all Kosovo’s territory, with the participation of all communities, including the Serbs of the north, so that afterwards we will have a legitimate leadership, a legitimate address, and people freely electing their own representatives, so that the central Government can communicate and cooperate closely with local Government.
Once again, I would like to thank Mr. Bildt for your personal commitment, your constant support given to Kosovo and the region, and especially to the process of normalizing Kosovo-Serbia relations. You were one of the first to believe in this agreement, you invested in it and you supported us. We are very grateful to you and your country.
Speech by the Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt
Thank you Prime Minister.
Allow me to repeat what I said in our meeting. My sincere and profound congratulations to you as Prime Minister and to Kosovo for the two great achievements you have reached in the last weeks and months: the agreement with Belgrade, although many implementation issues remain before you.
I am absolutely convinced of your determination to achieve implementation and also, I have had encouraging conversations with Belgrade, and I have no doubt that they are also determined to do their part with regard to implementation.
Second, the green light to start talks and negotiations about a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union, which means the start of contractual relations between Kosovo and the EU, and then movement forward to integration in the European Union.
As the Prime Minister said, this is very important for Kosovo and for Serbia, and I also believe that it is very important for the entire region, as if the whole region is in a position to overcome the legacy of the past and to talk to each other, then we can truly move forward.
This will facilitate better economic and social development in the coming years.
Today, it is a sunny day here, which is wonderful, but it is bright not just physically, but also because this is a good time for the whole region, and for Kosovo.
Once again, allow me to thank you personally Prime Minister for all your hard work up to now.
Last modified: July 31, 2022