At the Balkan Leadership Conference "Peace, Security and Development in the Western Balkans", of the Universal Peace Federation, the president of the Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy, Werner Fasslabend, said that Austria will work hard for Kosovo to be recognized and accepted by all countries.

According to him, after the war in Ukraine, there are new opportunities for Kosovo towards the European Union, emphasizing that Kosovo should not miss opportunities, but be successful in this journey. The former Minister of Defense in Austria, expressed optimism that Kosovo will become part of the European family, adding that only in a united Europe will there be stability and security. "We will work hard for your full recognition and we will try hard and do everything in our power, because we think it is extremely necessary, and I am sure that now is another situation, another opportunity, to discuss European unity, European integration that started in another form due to the war in Ukraine, we should not miss this opportunity, the process will be difficult but it is a new mindset and we must adapt our steps to do things properly to be successful. I am optimistic, of course not for tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, it will take time, but I am very sure that day will come, we will not only be accepted, we will also reach the European Union and I think this is a world step, and we have to fight for it, because only in a united Europe will we be stable and secure", he said. While talking about the history of Kosovo, he said that after the war in Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia, it was clear that independence would not be achieved only in soft form. "After the war in Slovenia, in Croatia, and in Bosnia, it was necessary to show the situation in Kosovo in a different way, and this specific mitigation was something that no one would better present, so that no one would come out against it. It was very clear that independence and freedom could not be taken only in a soft way, therefore the KLA period also came to the scene in the history of Kosovo. And now we are in the third phase, and the third phase would mean recognition, being accepted, not only in Europe, but all over the world, as a full and legal partner, and this is an opportunity we have now", he said. This conference is organized by the Universal Peace Federation, in partnership with the KosovaPress News Agency, the Washington Times Foundation, the International Media Association for Peace (IMAP), and the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (IAYSP).