29 June 2009
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, signed into effect today, in Washington, Kosovo’s official accession to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The ceremony took place in the premises of the US State Department, in the Treaty Room; before the US Deputy Secretary of State, James Steinberg.
Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, in his remarks, said “Kosovo’s accession to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank is a new history for which, together with our friends, we worked a long time for. Kosovo’s accession to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank will not only have economic effects, but also political ones. Our membership strengthens the sovereignty of our country, opens perspectives for our country’s economic development, as well as generates new jobs in independent Kosovo,” said Prime Minister Thaçi, after he signed the Articles of Agreement with the International Monetary Fund.
Prime Minister Thaçi and President Sejdiu also signed Kosovo’s accession to the organizations associated with the World Bank Group, such as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Development Association, the International Finance Corporation, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.
This afternoon, Prime Minister Thaçi will meet with the IMF Managing Director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, as well as the President of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick. Afterwards, he will take part in a reception organized by the Embassy of Kosovo in the US, in honor of the Kosovo leaders.
