Upon an official invitation of the President of the Republic of Kosovo, President of Republic of Austria, Mr. Heinz Fischer, is visiting Kosovo. President Fischer is the first Austrian President visiting Kosovo since the declaration of independence.
Below, we’re publishing the statements made by two Presidents at a joint press conference, held after the bilateral meeting.
President Jahjaga: I have the honour to today welcome on an official visit President Fischer of Austria, a friend of Kosovo, a man who has supported our country in its democratic processes and its Euro-Atlantic integrations.
President Fischer, your visit to Kosovo is the best proof of the continuation of friendship between our two countries, built with as much trust, love and understanding.
With President Fischer we had an exceptionally good and fruitful meeting. We discussed issues of mutual interest for our two countries, in particular in the field of economic development, and we also emphasized the importance of support for processes through which the whole region of South-Eastern Europe is going through.
President Fischer, I express the gratitude of the people of Kosovo for the help which Austria has provided to Kosovo in all periods of importance: at a difficult time by ending a war which left grave consequences in our society, and later during the rebuilding of the country and returning of hope to the citizens, through the presence in NATO peacekeeping force and other international missions. You have supported Kosovo in opening of a new chapter of state building- in creation of an all-inclusive, democratic, developed state, lawful and orderly one. Austria is the country in which the foundations of the statehood of Kosovo have been laid, host of the talks on status, under the facilitation of the UN envoy.
Austria is one of the very first states which have recognised the independence of Kosovo, thus helping the consolidation of our statehood. President Fischer, I reiterate the immense contribution of all those men and women of Austrian KFOR in Kosovo, who have for over 16 years helped the people of Kosovo not only in peace keeping and security, but also through creation of bridges of cooperation. Ad you personally President Fischer- are the person that has supported this mission without any hesitation.
This history of relations between our two countries is a proof of the determination of our nations to peace and understanding. We expressed our readiness for the expansion of cooperation between our two countries, especially in the field of economy and investments, and we are particularly honoured to see 25 large Austrian investors arrive together with President Fischer’s delegation. Kosovo has large natural and human resources and we are establishing a good business climate, by offering security for all investors. We want to expand our cooperation and orient the market towards European Union.
Republic of Kosovo, similar to other countries of the region, has a clear European perspective, and we are adamantly working in accomplishment of determined criteria and standards which would bring us closer to the large European family. President Fischer’s visit is occurring only one day after the signing of the Stabilisation-Association Agreement, a historic step for Kosovo in its relations with EU, which prepares our country for the journey towards membership. We expect to conclude the visa liberalisation process as well, which will enable free movement of our citizens in EU countries.
As a young country in Europe, we are demonstrating our dedication to good neighbourliness and safeguarding of stability and peace in the region as well as finding solutions through dialogue and agreements. We have shown our dedication to becoming an inseparable and active part of the global security architecture, important contributors to the fighting of extremism and radicalism and supporter of international endeavours to provide help to the refugees uprooted by the violence in their own country.
Republic of Kosovo today is going through an important stage, in testing of its internal democracy and its political maturity. Solutions are to be found within the system and within the institutions, as well as through mutual dialogue, respecting the constitutional and legal principles. Debate in institutions averts the violent clashing and builds the democratic and parliamentary culture so necessary in order to continue the integrative processes.
I believe that Kosovo will continue to enjoy the support of the international community, and consecutively of the amicable state of Austria in its journey ahead.
And at the end, with President Fisher we have agreed that our two countries expand the cooperation in the fields of mutual interest in economy, trade, culture, in the field of order and security and in free movement of citizens between our two countries.
Mr. President, thank you for your visit and the friendship between our two nations.
President Fischer: I am pleased to be here as a guest of President Jahjaga. I have accepted the invitation with pleasure. We have a sound foundation for discussions, we have met at various events and there is great agreement between us.
Kosovo was a major issue for whole of Europe, and an issue of principle, on whether we will manage to solve problems created in Kosovo in a peaceful manner. This was difficult, it was painful as well, but great progress has been achieved in this direction. Today we stand here, where the reality is an independent state called Kosovo, with safe borders and it also is an European reality. There are 111 states which have recognized Kosovo worldwide, but the road which Kosovo needs to traverse has not ended as yet. There remain more steps to be undertaken, some of which may be harder than others. Pat the path, in principle, is straight forward. We want to traverse this path together, and we want that the journey is peaceful.
Today, from this place, I would like to cordially congratulate you on yesterday’s signing of the SAA with the EU. Lots of work has gone into this project, this was not given to Kosovo as a gift, but much work was put into this. But now, you have made it. It is an important step. I told Madam President, for whom I have great respect, for us it is a fact, and I talk for Austria, but also for other EU states, to us it is natural that the process of European integrations has not ended yet, not until these six countries which we call western Balkans, become member with equal rights of the European Union, and become part of Europe’s projects of peace.
As far as visa liberalisation is concerned, this is the next testing step. Kosovo has done much work beforehand on this issue as well, and I think that the majority of EU states are working and are interested to make this a reality in near future.
Economic cooperation between Kosovo and EU member states is very important. Austria is endeavouring to approach Kosovo in an active manner, to activate institutions, enterprises, to encourage them to become active and invest in Kosovo. As part of our visit, we will also be holding an economic forum, with participation of 25 Austrian companies, which will try to expand their activities in Kosovo. This expansion will happen when Kosovo undertakes steps as increase of security, functioning of justice, when corruption no longer plays an important role. All these are important elements for further expansion of economic cooperation. So, all sides must work harder.
We are also closely watching the increase and strengthening of the democratic system in Kosovo, cooperation between government and opposition, a problematic issue in all democracies, which may turn to be a difficult problem, but with good will, these problems can be overcome. Other democracies have gone through this as well. There will be a good and solid democratic system for Kosovo as well, with a good legal foundation, which will serve to solve problems.
We strongly support KFOR activities. I will be visiting the Austrian KFOR contingent and I can telly you that today I am convinced that I shall return home with good impressions form the visit and discussions here.
Questions:
RTK: Question for both Presidents. Madam President, political crisis in the country is deepening, taking into consideration the diametrically opposite positions of government and opposition. As part of your constitutional engagements, you have held meetings with the leaders of political parties, and later the possibility of submitting the Brussels agreements to the Constitutional Court for interpretation and other steps were discussed, and it looks like this engagement has not brought forward any positive result. What else is there left to be done Madam President and how do you see the way to overcome this situation?
President Fischer, Kosovo is going through a not an easy period, and it is the first time it is facing this problem. Government and opposition continue to hold opposing stances on agreements reached in Brussels and on demarcation issue. What is your opinion on how can this situation be overcome and will this situation affect Kosovo’s European integrations, bearing in mind the just signed SAA?
President Jahjaga: As you know, last week I have held separate meetings with position and opposition, in an endeavour to overcome the situation created at the Parliament of Kosovo. Unfortunately, my invitation for a joint meeting with the whole political spectrum has not as yet been accepted by the opposition, but of course, my invitation still remains open, and I expect to see willingness and trust from political spectrum in order to overcome the current situation. At separate meetings which I have had with Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister and leaders of the opposition, I have proposed that under the auspices of my constitutional prerogatives, I address the Constitutional Court for the review of compliance of the principles of the Association with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. This proposal of mine has been welcomed and I will be addressing the Constitutional Court.
President Fischer: I am observing these issues with great care. Of course, I am the President of the Federation, who in Austria does not shy away from responding to actual questions. But to, in other countries express myself in relation to problems of the host country, I should be a bit more careful and more reserved. I can tell you that the demarcation agreement between Kosovo and Montenegro has been signed in Vienna, together with another demarcation agreement between two other countries.
It is good that the as yet unsolved border problems are solved through negotiations. Therefore, without interfering in Kosovo’s internal affairs, there must be a result aim of negotiations, which must then be implemented by both negotiating parties.
On the second issue which you mentioned, the agreement on Association of Serbian majority municipalities; As far as I know of this subject, this is not a new constitutional plain, but it states that this Association, these municipalities, have the right to unite, and I think that this will work in practice if all participating sides show good will. But it is the parliament of this country, the institutions of this country which must reach this decision, and I have the full trust in solution finding capacities of the institutions of Kosovo.
Elisabeth Hilgarth, Austrian Press Agency:
Kosovo is making progress towards European Union. The MSA is signed, and there have been advances in relation to situation with Belgrade. But there is still teargas in the parliament. Do you think that that democratic process is as it should be or is the democratic process in Kosovo getting closer to the European Union?
Mr. Fischer, I am asking you this on behalf of international journalists who asked me about the current situation in Austria, where the interior minister said that he wants to erect a preventive fence to contain the flow of refugees. A statement on this?
President Jahjaga: All international obligations which Kosovo has taken upon itself, not only on this occasion, Kosovo has fulfilled with responsibility and in their fullness. This has also to do also with the process, which you referred to as throwing of teargas in the parliament of Kosovo. As was also mentioned earlier, there are some challenges which Kosovo is facing. In a public manner, violence has been condemned, as it is not the right format for transmission of the message, and solutions are within the institutional lofe, within the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo.
Even the latest activities and my latest proposals to submit the principles of the association of Serbian majority municipalities in Kosovo to the Constitutional Court is an institutional act and all solutions will remain within the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo.
Yesterday’s act of the signing of the SAA in Strasburg by the Prime Minister of Kosovo is the right message which Kosovo and its citizens have received at the right time by EU and its enlargement policy, not only for Kosovo but for all countries of the region.
The future of Kosovo and of all the countries of western Balkans is towards Euro Atlantic integrations and in no moment shall we side away for this ambition, and this remains as our one and only vision.
President Fischer: Austria is a state which has considerable experience with refugees, who have continued to arrive during the last decades, after the Hungarian revolution, after the Prague Spring, after the civil war in Yugoslavia and especially after the war in Bosnia and so on.
Actually, there is a currently a number of refugees which we have never had previously, and in this year, 2015, it is foreseen that more than 500 thousand people have crossed the Austrian border. Majority of them with be continuing onwards to Germany, but they are also “passing through Austria”, and are creating the need for larger organizational undertakings and great organizational and logistical problems which need to be solved.
We are calculating that we will have around 80 thousand requests for asylum, which we need to approve for asylum in Austria. We envisage to do this with our best capabilities, but it shows that we have reached the boundaries of our capabilities, and for this reason, the Federal Government of Austria, and I think this is valid for other states as well, is making preparations to face this problem in best possible manner. So far no one has given any details in relations to this, with a fence or any other auxiliary equipment; but, such a problem does exist, and as I said earlier, the Government of Austria is endeavouring to fulfil the technical and organisational conditions and to improve conditions in order to avoid potential problems. But, a more special attention should be given to EU’s external borders, in order for them to be better controlled and that distribution of the refugees to work well within Europe. Only if they are distributed equally, then they can be taken care by all states.