Deputy Minister Selimi met the Vice-President of the European Parliament Othmar Karas and other senior Austrian diplomats

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The purpose of the visit is to inform parties and bodies with current political presence in Kosovo as well as to explain the host of the strategic moves of Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo by asking for help in becoming members in multilateral bodies.

At the long and cordial meeting with the Vice President of the European Parliament from the European People’s Party, Mr. Karas, held in the House of Europe in Vienna, Mr. Selimi briefed the host on the recent developments in Kosovo, the expectations of Kosovo in the area of European integration and the strategy and moves of Kosovar diplomacy towards a closer collaboration in multilateral bodies. Mr. Selimi also thanked Mr. Karas for the assistance that his party has provided to Kosovo since the time of Alois Mock, a former minister from the ranks of the conservative party.

Mr. Karas expressed his interest for the current situation and discussed the possible scenarios of the developments for the months ahead. Mr. Karas expressed his willingness in supporting political processes taking place in Kosovo including lobbying activities with the 5 EU Member states who have not yet recognizes Kosovo’s Independence.

The Vice President of the European Parliament invited Deputy Minister Selimi to deliver a lecture at the next meeting of young European leaders and ministers from the People’s parties which will convene in Brussels. Mr. Karas who is also the director of the renowned Schuman Institute , offered the Kosovo MFA concrete cooperation in projects of public diplomacy and showed his interest to visit the Republic of Kosovo soon.

At the meeting with Ambassador Gurer, Director for Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia held at the Austrian MFA, Mr. Selimi presented the viewpoints of the Kosovar government in the process of the technical dialogue, of the overall political situation in Kosovo and Mrs. Gurer expressed her support for Kosovo’s European perspective as well as for the work of the Kosovar diplomacy until now. She underlined the importance of reaching the agreement for Kosovo’s representation by stating that the Republic of Kosovo can receive practical benefits when being incorporated as a state and an equal member in many regional initiatives and emphasized that Kosovo’s cooperation will not remain unnoticed from the European partners.

Deputy Minister Selimi also had a series of meeting with diplomatic representatives and leaders of several initiatives and pan-European bodies seated in Vienna where they discussed the possibility of increasing Kosovo’s direct communication until reaching full membership into these bodies.