Brussels, 08/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - Kosovo wants better relations with all its neighbours, including Serbia, announced Hashim Thaçi, Prime Minister of Kosovo, speaking on Wednesday 7 December after his meeting with the president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy. He explained that he had told Van Rompuy that Pristina intended to enter into close cooperation with all its neighbours - Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro - and to enjoy better relations with Serbia, as two sovereign states. “We know our past, but we are working hard on the future and on making the two countries good neighbours and members of the EU and NATO”, he added.
The Council president hailed the latest “positive results” of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, especially the agreement on the integrated management of border crossing points (IBM) that both parties have pledged to implement. He also expressed his appreciation of the constructive role played by Thaçi and encouraged him to seek new results in the interest of Kosovo, Serbia and the region as a whole.
Accession. Both men also discussed Pristina's future as part of Europe. “Kosovo is ready. It has an aim and a vision, which is to enter the EU as soon as possible”, the Kosovar prime minister explained. Van Rompuy trusts that concrete progress will be made in the dialogue on visas, on trade and on accession to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and in Kosovo's participation in EU programmes. The president of the Council also pointed out that Kosovo must continue to step up its efforts, in particular in the field of rule of law, including the fight against organised crime and corruption. (CG/transl.jl)