The President of the Republic of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani received today at a meeting the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Annalena Baerbock. The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, as well as the German Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin.
President Osmani stressed that Kosovo has joined the EU and the US by imposing sanctions on the Russian Federation which has carried out military aggression against Ukraine. According to President Osmani, the Republic of Kosovo supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and is ready to shelter Ukrainian refugees.
President Osmani asked Minister Baerbock for Germany's support for the membership of the Republic of Kosovo in the Council of Europe. She stressed that Kosovo is ready to fulfill all membership criteria set out by this organization, as it represents an important impetus for the implementation of European standards for human rights and the European agenda of the country.
Also, President Osmani added that for Kosovo and peace and security in the region, it is of existential importance to start the NATO membership process. Russian aggression on Ukraine, according to President Osmani has expedited the necessity of Euro-Atlantic integration of Kosovo and the entire Western Balkans.
President Osmani emphasized that Kosovo's aspiration to become a NATO member aims to prevent efforts for the destabilization of our country and of the region through the exertions of Russia and its ally, Serbia. President Osmani also mentioned the threat that comes from the close military cooperation between Russia and Serbia, as well as from the operation of a Russian centre close to the Kosovo border.
In this regard, President Osmani has sought Germany's support for membership in the Partnership for Peace, then in NATO, as well as in other international organizations.
Relations between the two countries were also discussed at the meeting. President Osmani stressed that for Kosovo, Germany is a strategic partner in terms of politics, security and economy. According to her, Kosovo is grateful for the continuous German support.
President Osmani appraised that the relations with Germany are made even stronger by a large number of Kosovar migrants, who live in and are well integrated in Germany. Therefore, according to President Osmani, Kosovo considers Germany as a driving force for the Euro-Atlantic integration of Kosovo and of the region.