President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Atifete Jahjaga, attended the Brdo-Brioni Summit, which took place today in Zagreb, Croatia.
The Summit, a joint initiative of the President of the Republic of Croatia, Ms. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, and President of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Borut Pahor, aims to help the countries of the western Balkan region in their processes of European integration, was also attended by the President of the Republic of Montenegro, Mr. Filip Vujanovic, President of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Bujar Nishani, President of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Gjorge Ivanov, President of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Tomislav Nikolic, and the troika of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency, Mr. Dragan Covic, Mr. Bakir Izetbegovic and Mr. Mladen Ivanic.
Guest of the Summit is the Vice President of the United States America, Mr. Joe Biden, and the proceedings were also attended by the President of the European Council, Mr. Donald Tusk and he President of the Republic of Austria, Mr. Heinz Fischer.
After the official reception by the co organizers, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and Borut Pahor, Summit commenced its proceedings at a plenary session.
At her address during the session, President Jahjaga among others stated:
There is no doubt that advancement in the region is exceptional. Much of our problems today are problems and challenges of the developing states. Advancement is visible in our active engagement with each other, our cooperation and development of good neighbourly relations.
There are still issues which need to be addressed, but in general the reality of last decades has been accepted and supported.
Republic of Kosovo, as the youngest state in Europe, is dedicated to reforms and we are devoted to our determination to become members of the European Union and NATO, a unique opportunity to place the region on an irreversible path of peace and prosperity.
We have made advancements and this advancement has brought us at half distance. But we also need another boost to ensure that our individual and collective advances are irreversible. For this, we need USA and European Union by our side.
Advancement in the region is still fragile. We are at a crossroad, and some of us, are also at the front line of certain powers which endanger to push back what we have jointly built for these two decades, stability and peace.
Therefore it is important that we advance the momentum of European and NATO integration. We have a lot to do, and Kosovo will not be asking for shortcuts, but we must all remember that this si a unique chance to normalize the region once and for all.
Kosovo, who will soon mark its eighth anniversary of independence, is very proud of the joint success, part of which is also related to your name, Vice President Biden, and we are grateful to all those who strengthened our sovereignty as an independent state through your active engagement during these two decades.
Kosovo has just signed Stabilisation-Association Agreement with EU, which is our first formal step towards our ambition of membership, and it is a clear sign of advancement in implementation of reforms and supporting of European values. We hope that this relationship with EU will create economic development, youth programmes and employment opportunities for our young population of this part of Europe.
Kosovo has no doubts about its future. We see ourselves and EU and NATO members, an agenda which brings together all citizens of Kosovo.
We have kept our word in becoming a home of all ethnic communities.
We have invested much time and political capital in dialogue with Serbia to normalize relations between our states.
Important advances have been achieved in reaching of certain agreements. Our advancement must be measured with the implementation of these agreement as a condition of our path to EU and influence which agreements will carry on not only the fulfilment of the Brussels standards but also for a proper reconciliation between our states in a true European spirit. This means to have responsibility, especially to refrain from the rhetoric and acts which have derailed this region during the last three decades.
Kosovo remains dedicated to the dialogue process and regional cooperation. We see no other alternative.
As far as security is concerned, we are an important factor in security issues. Unfortunately, we have not been immune to the global threats of DAESH, but we have addressed the threat of participants in foreign wars and terrorist activities with determination. Also, we have expanded our cooperation with the rest of countries of the region. Last month, our law enforcement and security forces, together with those of Albania and Macedonia, have hit the recruiters of participants from the region for DAESH. We have intensified the exchange of information with our main allies, aiming to stop this practice. We have also been as successful in Kosovo in confronting of the recruiters and their supporters.
These operations have had great discouraging effect and now their numbers are minimal. We will not cease until we have this problem under our full control.
Before I conclude, I would like to address another issue which troubles the region. The issue of refugees from Middle East, and I would like to quote, Vice President Biden, that to close the doors on refugees would mean to abandon our values.
Sixteen years ago, half of the population of Kosovo was ethnically cleansed by the Milosevic regime. It is the states represented around this table which opened their doors to us. They did not disappoint us and we must not disappoint those who are forced to abandon their homes due to war which is taking lives of innocent people.
We all returned back home and built a free, democratic and independent Kosovo.
Kosovo’s capacities to accommodate refugees remain limited, but I express my determination to become a part of the European solution to the refugee crisis. This experience is very familiar to us.
Honourable Vice President Biden, President Tusk, honourable Presidents of the countries of the region, dear friends;
We need active US and EU engagement because the chance for success is very big. It is a historic chance.
President Grabar-Kitarovic, President Pahor;
Please allow me to express my gratitude for your engagements to help the countries of the region in realization of our joint vision towards EU. This forum has by now produced exceptional results by becoming a symbol of what regional cooperation must look like.
At the end of the Summit, participating Presidents signed the Joint Declaration of the Brdo-Brioni Summit, which call for acceleration of the energizing of the European Union and NATO integrations.