Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, has congratulated his Greek counterpart, Antonis Samaras, for taking over the presidency of European Union from 1 January.
For the next six months, Greece will coordinate EU affairs and Thaçi said he expects the country to play an important role on implementing Kosovo’s European agenda.
Thaçi also said he expects Greece, as presiding over the EU, to support the process of normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia as two independent countries as also support achievement of new agreements.
“It was my pleasure today on behalf of the citizens and the Government of the Republic of Kosovo to congratulate Prime Minister of Greece, Mr. Samaras, for taking on the presidency of European Union”.
“I firmly believe that in the first six months of this year, Greece will play an important role in implementation of European agenda through defined priorities of economic growth and employment as well as further integration of the region – including Kosovo.
While the Thessaloniki Summit, under the Greek EU presidency of 2003, was a turning point in opening the EU enlargement perspective for the Western Balkans, including in particular Kosovo’s perspective, I today expressed the belief that the present presidency will be a unique opportunity to approximate Kosovo’s EU integration through finalization of Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Kosovo and EU and taking the decision for visa liberalization for Kosovo – at two main pillars of our EU integration.
We appreciate the role of Greece, as a regional neighbor and supporter of the Republic of Kosovo in the Euro-Atlantic processes, and it is my pleasure to confirm our commitment in continuing to empower this perspective in 2014. As president of the EU, we expect Greece to support the process of normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, as two independent countries, and support achievement of new agreements.
The state of Kosovo will be a serious partner in building of European perspective of the region and beyond”, wrote Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi on his Facebook page.
Greece is one of the five EU member states that have not recognized Kosovo along with Spain, Cyprus, Slovakia, and Romania.
