Selimi: Kosovo will strengthen its identity on multilateral grounds

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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo, Petrit Selimi stated that according to the last meeting of the International Steering Group, in fact, Kosovo, apart from the elements in the sector of security and justice will no longer have independence supervision and until September Kosovo should be attending and strengthening its identity not only on bilateral grounds of recognitions but also on multilateral grounds.

Selimi stated that this intergovernmental level of the Working Group aims at implementing Brussels the Brussels agreement with respect to Kosovo representation through the footnote. “This Working Group has so far met eight times and the goal was to implement the first list of regional organizations received by Mr. Cooper. This list contains 27 different organizations and our goal is that today we would perform calendar coordination for year 2012” he stated.

Deputy Minister Selimi emphasized that Kosovo’s membership in all these organizations is not an easy process while referring to application procedures but also of finding the budget for membership and bearing in mind the financial cost.

“We have not reached a stage where we need to be consolidated and plan even further into the future because requests in the 27 organization list have been submitted, along with Mr. Cooper’s support letter. We have received positive response from 7-8 organizations and I believe that by the end of the week we will reach at 10 positive responses”, he noted.

Selimi also added that this meeting should produce a need identification regarding advocacy, lobbying and other possible organizations that have not been yet identified.

The Deputy Foreign Minister announced that MFA has allocated a budget for regional cooperation and that it is in contact with the Government that this budget may be increased.

Selimi also provided explanations regarding the administrative instruction issued on April 22 which provides detailed explanations on the manner and form of Kosovo’s representation in regional organizations’ meetings.

Deputy Minister stated that it is important that while attending various meetings, delegations of the Government of Kosovo should have a uniform representation and only the form of representation approved in the agreement is to be used.

Robert Wilton, ICO Political Advisor, delivered a brief speech during the introductory session of the seminar. Wilton stated that a free and sovereign Kosovo should create for itself its place and success in the world. According to him, the Brussels agreement is in vain if Kosovo does not utilize the opportunities in creating for itself the place it deserves in the world. “Brussels is very happy with the agreement alone, with the impression of the agreement. Belgrade offers nothing cheaply; do not expect anything more from Belgrade and Brussels. Kosovo should create its own success,” stated Wilton. According to him, this success does not depend only on politicians, senior diplomats, but it also depends from the daily job of officers and experts. Wilton expressed confidence in Kosovo’s success on this journey by encouraging the efforts of Kosovo institutions’ representatives. 

Representatives of sports federation and other officials present at this seminar discussed about the challenges and hardships and for the interaction aiming at the speedy and successful conclusion of procedures for membership in multilateral organizations and mechanisms.