President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs Atifete Jahjaga, received today at a meeting the US Secretary of State Mrs Hilary Clinton and EU’s High Representative for foreign policy and security, Baroness Catherine Ashton.
US State Secretary, Mrs Hilary Clinton, praised the achievements of Kosovo and the dedication of its institutions to work hard towards building of a developed country, an all inclusive and democratic one and emphasized the continuation of support towards Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic integrational processes.
Madam Clinton also highly praised the dedication of Kosovo’s leadership, in particular that of President Jahjaga, for her engagements towards fulfilment of obligations in its EU membership path.
Speaking about the dedication of Kosovo’s leadership in expansion of reforms and establishment of Rule of Law and Order, Madam Secretary said that establishment of National Anti-Corruption Council under the leadership of President Jahjaga is of great importance, and offered the support of the USA for Kosovo’s institutions in the fight against corruption and in the field of Rule of Law. Madam Secretary also emphasized the importance of cooperation between the institutions of Kosovo with the EU Rule of Law Mission- EULEX.
Secretary Clinton stated that the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia is of an utmost importance, as it leads towards the normalisation of relations between the two countries and estimated that Kosovo will gain a lot from this process.
Madam Secretary praised President Jahjaga for her engagement in representation of Kosovo on the international arena, for her role as a factor of unity of the people of Kosovo and for her engagement in the advancement of the role of the women in society.
EU’s High Representative for foreign policy and security, Baroness Catherine Ashton, highly praised the support that President Jahjaga has been providing to the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and stated the importance this carries for the European path of both these countries. She said that both Kosovo and Serbia have a clear EU integration perspective and both countries must show their dedication and determination through achievement of criteria and normalisation of relations with one another and not to obstruct each other during this process.
Baroness Ashton emphasized that expansion of reforms is important, as is the dedication to carry out the fighting of corruption and organised crime.
President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs Atifete Jahjaga, at the beginning, on behalf of the people of Kosovo, its institutions and her personal behalf, expressed condolences to the US State Secretary Mrs Clinton, for the loss of life of American citizens caused by the Hurricane that has hit the east coast of the USA.
By wishing a warm welcome to Mrs Clinton and Baroness Ashton to Kosovo, President Jahjaga classified their visit as a very meaningful one, for our country at such an important period.
Madam President said that Secretary Clinton, the US Government and its people, in conjunction with the European allies, lead by Baroness Ashton, are helping Kosovo build a more prosperous future and that they will remain an inseparable part of our history.
President Jahjaga expressed the dedication of Kosovo to remain on its European path and expansion of internal reforms. Madam President said that the war against corruption is a priority in her work list and is personally dedicated to the creation of a unifying front for European integrations, in order to help create an institutional and all-party consensus and a common platform in order to achieve a full membership in the EU.
Talking about the support that has been given to the dialogue between the Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Serbia, in order to normalise the relations between the two independent and sovereign countries, President Jahjaga said that dialogue is the only way to solve all open issues and that it will help in establishment of good neighbourly relations, as one of the preconditions towards EU membership. She said that she welcomes the meeting of two Prime Ministers as a step ahead towards the normalisations of relations.
President Jahjaga said that Republic of Kosovo has demonstrated its political courage and its will to engage in a proper dialogue process, as it did during the dialogue in Brussels and through implementation of agreements achieved. She said that this will has not been demonstrated by the Republic of Serbia and added that EU must continue to engage harder in order to guarantee the implementation of all agreements achieved so far.
Madam President said that she believes that this process must be focused, limited in time and that it must produce long term results and that it will strengthen the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo. She also stated that she welcomes the continuous upholding of Kosovo’s territorial integrity and her objection to any kind of ethnic division. By stating that these principles are being challenged by the criminal and illegal structures in the north of the Republic of Kosovo, President Jahjaga said that Republic of Serbia must help in abolishment of such structures, as they undermine the joint engagements in stabilisation of Kosovo and of the region as a whole.
President Jahjaga said that Kosovo has a good offer for the Serbian community, and that with their integration in the institutions of Kosovo, they will be the winners. She stated that during her visits to different parts of Kosovo she has assured the members of the Serbian community that Kosovo is their country as well, and that their rights and their religious and cultural heritage is guaranteed by the Constitution and Laws of the country.
Madam President said that Kosovo is an all inclusive country, where each community and each citizen is being offered the same equal opportunities.
President Jahjaga thanked US Secretary , Mrs Hilary Clinton, for the strong support that she provided for the International Women’s Summit that was held in Prishtina in the beginning of October of this year, holding of which she classified as a big achievement for Kosovo and for the region.