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Kosovo: 10th independence day, premier thanks Italy
Haradinaj to ANSA, 'You have always supported us'
17 February, 16:54
(ANSA) - PRISTINA - Kosovo's prime minister Ramush Haradinaj
thanked Italy for the ''contìnuous support'' given to its
country, which is committed to consolidating sovereignty and
state structures and establishing democratic order.
''Italy has always supported Kosovo, making a great contribution in political, economic and security terms'', Haradinaj told ANSA on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of independence, 17 February 2008. ''It is in Kosovo's interest to develop and strengthen bilateral relations with Rome'', added the premier, underlining Pristina's willingness to go further along the path towards Euro-Atlantic integration.
The premier, who was in the past among the leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) - the Albanian independent guerrilla who fought against the Serbs in the conflict occurred in the late nineties - said he was satisfied with the results obtained so far, even if ''there is still much work to be done, especially in the fight against corruption and crime, the establishment of rule of law and in creation of new jobs''.
According to Haradinaj, more efforts are necesssary to improve the economic situation in Kosovo, encouraging more foreign investment and making the most of all national resources.
Haradinaj is hoping to continue the EU mediated dialogue with Belgrade, with the aim of reaching a final agreement. According to the head of Kosovo's government, ''the issue should be settled by Serbian recognition of Kosovo's independence'' - Referring then to the special court established to judge the crimes committed by the members of KLA, Haradinaj said he had no fear underlining that, in the event of charges against him, he would spontaneously go in front of the judges in The Hague, just like he did in previous years dealing with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which has prosecuted him twice, in 2008 and 2012, and acquitted him in both cases. ''It's in Kosovo's interest to shed light on the past'', said the premier. (ANSA).
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''Italy has always supported Kosovo, making a great contribution in political, economic and security terms'', Haradinaj told ANSA on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of independence, 17 February 2008. ''It is in Kosovo's interest to develop and strengthen bilateral relations with Rome'', added the premier, underlining Pristina's willingness to go further along the path towards Euro-Atlantic integration.
The premier, who was in the past among the leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) - the Albanian independent guerrilla who fought against the Serbs in the conflict occurred in the late nineties - said he was satisfied with the results obtained so far, even if ''there is still much work to be done, especially in the fight against corruption and crime, the establishment of rule of law and in creation of new jobs''.
According to Haradinaj, more efforts are necesssary to improve the economic situation in Kosovo, encouraging more foreign investment and making the most of all national resources.
Haradinaj is hoping to continue the EU mediated dialogue with Belgrade, with the aim of reaching a final agreement. According to the head of Kosovo's government, ''the issue should be settled by Serbian recognition of Kosovo's independence'' - Referring then to the special court established to judge the crimes committed by the members of KLA, Haradinaj said he had no fear underlining that, in the event of charges against him, he would spontaneously go in front of the judges in The Hague, just like he did in previous years dealing with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which has prosecuted him twice, in 2008 and 2012, and acquitted him in both cases. ''It's in Kosovo's interest to shed light on the past'', said the premier. (ANSA).
