Brussels, 05/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - EU membership is Kosovo's “key challenge and objective”, said Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni, speaking on 4 May before the European Parliament's committee on foreign affairs. “We will be able to say that we have reached the end of the road only once we have been admitted as a fully-fledged member of the EU”, he said. Kosovo will take part in the EU/Balkans summit that the Spanish EU Presidency will organise in Sarajevo on 2 June and “we expect this summit to result in clear prospects for European integration” by all Balkan countries, including Kosovo, Hyseni underlined. The fact that “the youngest country in the world” is not yet recognised by five of the 27 member states (Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Slovakia) is obviously a considerable problem but “we shall do everything we can to resolve it”, Hyseni explained. Although these countries do not recognise Kosovo in order not to betray Serbia, they are mistaken “as non-recognition is not helping Serbia”, the minister asserted. On the contrary, recognising the country “would help equally both Serbia and Kosovo”, he said, adding that Pristina has “excellent relations” with the neighbouring countries and is seeking “normal relations” with Belgrade.
Suppression of visa requirement. Skender Hyseni also launched a pressing appeal for the EU to clearly state the conditions to be met by Kosovo in order to benefit from visa-free travel. “We request a clear catalogue of benchmarks Kosovo needs to implement so that it can get a road map for visa liberalisation at the earliest possible occasion”, the minister said. “We stand ready to implement the benchmarks. Be tough with Kosovo but give us a clear catalogue and timetable”, Hyseni said. (H.B./transl.jl)