The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Madam Atifete Jahjaga, received today the US Secretary of the naval forces, Ray Mabus, who was also accompanied by the US Ambassador in Kosovo, Mrs. Tracey Ann Jacobson.
President Jahjaga praised the continued aid of the US for Kosovo, especially in the construction of peace, stability and prosperity for all its citizens. She said that Kosovo today is built on the principle of citizenship, a comprehensive state with equal rights for all citizens without distinction.
President Jahjaga said that Kosovo is making efforts to establish the rule of law and order in its entire territory, being built as a state of law, with the fight against corruption and organized crime and with increased efforts in the recovery of its economy.
President Jahjaga said that Kosovo has initiated important processes, including the creation of the Special Court, on which the Assembly must decide and it is also engaged in the dialogue with the Republic of Serbia to normalize the relations and to facilitate the lives of the citizens from both sides of the border.
She said that Kosovo’s European perspective, like the perspective of the entire Balkan region, must be clear and full and emphasized the commitment of the institutions and the society of Kosovo on the European path.
President Jahjaga stressed that Kosovo has neither been spared from the multiple global challenges especially in the security field, and from extremist and radical threats, but has made important steps to their prevention.
She said that the US presence in Kosovo and in particular through the military forces in the framework of KFOR, have helped the stability and the establishment of peace not only in Kosovo but in the region in general. President Jahjaga said that the continuation of the US military presence and the military camp Bondsteel is of a special importance not only for Kosovo.
President Jahjaga informed Secretary Mabus also about the ongoing work on the capacity building of the security in the country in partnership with the international factor and stressed that with the conclusion of the reviewing process of the security sector in Kosovo the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into the Armed Force of Kosovo has been recommended, a lightly armed defense force which will reflect the ethnic composition of Kosovo.
President Jahjaga said that the Armed Force of Kosovo should be part of the NATO Partnership for Peace to ensure its further development and to receive assignments in the field of security in the periods of reduced presence of KFOR in Kosovo.