Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci said in a lecture at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) that Kosovo needed to diversify its foreign policy and focus not only on increasing the number of recognitions but also its membership in international organisations. He said however that Kosovos’ top priority is Euro-Atlantic integration. “We are also quite engaged on making the visa liberalization for our people happen as soon as possible as we are the last Balkans republic that cannot move freely to Europe”, said Thaci. He added that Kosovo institutions are also working on a strategy that will be presented to NATO recommending start of Partnership for Peace negotiations. “European integrations are also translated into between relations in the region and we have invested in improving relations with our neighbours,” Thaci said.

According to him, the second priority of Kosovo’s diplomacy is strengthening international position in international organisations. “We have prepared all the necessary documentation to apply for membership in the Council of Europe, as well as in certain UN agencies where countries have no veto rights.” In this regard Thaci mentioned Kosovo’s imminent application for membership in UNESCO. He also said that the dialogue in Brussels is helping Kosovo solidify its international position and “the end of it will enable Kosovo become member of the UN.”

Speaking about the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue, Thaci said the upcoming topic that will be addressed in the process is the establishment of the association/community of Serb municipalities. However, he said that the first draft that Serbia proposed was unacceptable to both Kosovo and the EU because it outlined the creation of a type of Republika Srpska in Kosovo. “There are delays but we have to push forward. I will meet Prime Minister Vucic here in Norway at the Oslo Forum and we also have a new round of dialogue next week in Brussels on closing certain chapters that were supposed to have been concluded by now such as the Kosovo’s telephone code and the parallel energy system in the north,” noted Thaci.