Ankara, December 29, 2016 – The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, has started today his official visit to Turkey, placing a wreath of flowers at the Ataturk Mausoleum in Ankara where he signed in the Book of Memories.
The Head of State has started the official visits with separate meetings with the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, İsmail Kahraman, and with Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım.
With the Speaker of the Assembly Kahraman, President Thaçi discussed about the good relations between Kosovo and Turkey and the possibilities of inter-parliamentary cooperation.
President Thaçi said that Kosovo is grateful that Turkey was among the first countries to recognize Kosovo, on the day when Kosovo declared the independence, and for the continued support to ensure new recognitions and the membership in international organizations.
The Speaker of the Turkish Assembly, İsmail Kahraman, said that Turkey is and shall remain a friend of Kosovo and added that the two countries “need to increase the parliamentary cooperation”.
At the end of his visit to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, President Thaçi placed flowers at the part of the Assembly hit by projectiles in the attempted coup dated July 15, 2016.
In the meeting with Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, President Thaçi praised the good relations between Kosovo and Turkey and discussed about the possibilities of deepening the cooperation between the countries.
“I appreciate the strategic partnership between Turkey and Kosovo”, said President Thaçi.
Whereas, Prime Minister Yıldırım said that Turkey will continue to promote Kosovo in the world and ensured President Thaçi that he will work towards deepening the cooperation between the two countries in all fields.
“We will continue to seek the recognition of Kosovo and its membership in international organizations”, said Prime Minister Yıldırım.
President Thaçi expressed appreciation for the continuous support and called for intesification of cooperation between the two countries , particularly in the economic sector.
“Investors from Turkey are among the most important”, said President Thaçi.
The Head of State also stressed that both countries, Kosovo and Turkey, are facing with the threat of radicalism and terrorism and said that the security mechanisms of the two countries “have excellent cooperation”.
“Therefore, everyone who is a terrorist in Turkey, is a terrorist in Kosovo as well”, concluded the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi.