Tokyo, September 12 – The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi had a meeting at the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), which is related to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and influential in the foreign policy of the country.
President Thaçi was received by Kenichiro Sasae, President of the Japan Institute of International Affairs, and associates Tomonori Yoshizaki and Yasunori Nakayama who showed interest in the latest developments in Kosovo and throughout the Southeast European region
Speaking about the purpose of the visit to Japan, President Thaçi stated that the visit aims to bring Kosovo and Japan even closer, especially after the initiative of Prime Minister Abe of Japan for greater engagement in the Western Balkans region.
He said that 20 years after the end of the war and 11 years after the independence, Kosovo is on the right path towards NATO and the EU.
“The citizens of Kosovo are united for NATO and EU membership”, said President Thaçi.
The Head of State further said that the influence of other states and ideologies, opposing Western values and principles, has begun to penetrate into the region.
“But the influence of other states and ideologies, opposed to Western values and principles, has begun to penetrate into the region. Kosovo has opposed these tendencies and continues to oppose them. However, these have caused divisions in the region”, elaborated President Thaçi.
Therefore, according to him, it is important that the strategic supporters of the region, the EU, the USA, and Japan as well, to be present in the Western Balkans as much as possible.
“Kosovo today has security mechanisms, capacities to guarantee the rule of law, infrastructure to guarantee investments”, stated President Thaçi.
President Thaçi added that Kosovo is working to close the chapter of past tragedies and to build the chapter of development, prosperity and Euro-Atlantic integration.