The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani received today at a meeting the Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic, to whom she awarded the “St. Teresa” Presidential Medal with motivation for care, swift reaction, solidarity and humanity of the Croatian state in response to the tragic accident of July 25th of this year near Slavonski Brod, when 10 citizens of Kosovo lost their lives and 26 others were injured.
President Osmani also awarded the same medal to the “Dr. Josip Benčević” General Hospital in Slavonski Brod for the humanism, dedication and professionalism demonstrated in the treatment of the injured.
At the meeting with Prime Minister Plenkovic, President Osmani praised the relations with the Croatian state and pledged to expand them further. The President also thanked Mr. Plenkovic for the support that his country has given to Kosovo with a quantity of anti-Covid vaccines.
In addition, President Osmani emphasized that Croatia's role for Kosovo is both as a strategic regional partner and at the same time as a supporter of our country's European path. She mentioned that the two countries have intensified cooperation in the field of European integration.
Speaking in relation to the current political situation in Kosovo and beyond, President Osmani mentioned the risk of destabilisation of the region from the expansion of Russian influence and of their exponents in Serbia.
According to President Osmani, the dialogue with Serbia should end with mutual recognition as any ideas which aim at the unequal treatment of Kosovo in the regional context have been rejected.
She stressed that Croatia is a friendly country, from which Kosovo expects support for membership in international organizations, but also in the strengthening of its international subjectivity.
To date, Kosovo and Croatia have signed about 30 agreements, memorandums and cooperation protocols. In this context, President Osmani emphasized the possibilities of cooperation in the field of defense, foreign policy, economy, as well as in other areas of mutual interest.