The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, welcomed today the European Union Special Representative for the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue, Peter Sorensen.

In this first official meeting, he congratulated Sorensen on his new role and informed him of the latest developments in the country and the steps towards the formation of institutions in the 9th legislature.

According to a statement from the Kosovo Government, the Prime Minister requested from the EU envoy Sorensen that the EU immediately lift the unjust restrictive measures against Kosovo. He emphasized the unhealthy contradiction for the EU, its fundamental values ​​and the reforms undertaken by the Kosovo Government with great support from the citizens, that in the same period when the country marks the greatest democratic rise, even according to international indices, it is simultaneously under restrictive EU measures, reports KosovaPress.

"They discussed the EU-mediated dialogue process and the way forward. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of the full and unconditional implementation of the Basic Agreement and the Ohrid Annex. Recalling the paramilitary attack in Banjska in September 2023 and the terrorist attack in Ibër-Lepenc in November last year, he also underlined the risk that the terrorist leader Milan Radoićić, together with his group, continues to pose to the country's security and the normalization of relations within the framework of the dialogue process as long as he remains free in Serbia, despite his admission of guilt before the authorities in Serbia and the 160-page indictment by the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kosovo. Therefore, he reiterated the call for Radoićić and his group to be handed over to Kosovo for trial," the statement said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi also received the European Union Special Representative for the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue, Peter Sorensen, on the new envoy's first official visit to Kosovo. He was accompanied at this meeting by the Head of the European Union Office in Kosovo, Aivo Orav.

 At the beginning of the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi introduced Emissary Sørensen to the progress the country has made over the years and the opportunities for development that Kosovo offers, highlighting the information technology sector and the young average age of the population as important assets.

 For his part, Sorensen congratulated the Deputy Prime Minister on the electoral process in the recent February 9 elections, reports KosovaPress.

"A number of topics were discussed, with a focus on the way forward towards the normalization of relations within the framework of the dialogue process. Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi emphasized that the Basic Agreement and the Ohrid Implementation Annex should be fully implemented through a fair and equitable sequencing plan between the parties. He also appreciated the European Union's public stance that Serbia's behavior in the Council of Europe is a violation of the agreement. Furthermore, the Deputy Prime Minister raised concerns and informed Emissary Sorensen about the efforts of the Serbian authorities to stop the financial assistance of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo to Albanians in the Presevo Valley," the statement said.

Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi thanked Emissary Sørensen for today's visit and conversation, expressing his willingness for fruitful cooperation.

/Kosovapress/