“Rights and freedoms of all minority communities in the Republic of Kosovo are guaranteed by the highest legal document of the country, the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, which provides important laws that derive from President Ahtisaari’s Proposal” – the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Dr. Fatmir Sejdiu, said during a meeting today with Walter Kälin, the United Nations Special Representative on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons.
“All the citizens of our country, regardless of their ethnic background, may return to and live in their homes and properties” – President Sejdiu said, but he added that those who have committed crimes during the war in Kosovo must face justice.
President Sejdiu recalled that no ethnically motivated incident has occurred after the declaration of independence of Republic of Kosovo and that this indicates the overall stability that prevails in the country.
During this meeting as well, President Sejdiu invited all the Serbian citizens of Kosovo and other displaced persons to return and provide their direct assistance in developing their own country.
“The Republic of Kosovo is strongly committed to get integrated into the Euro-Atlantic community and to fulfil the commitments made during the process of resolving the political status of Kosovo that was led by President Ahtisaari” – President said, reiterating that Belgrade is representing the main obstacle in the integration of Serb ethnic minority into country’s institutional life, which, he maintained, is not only supporting the parallel structures in the north of Kosovo, but has lately called on Kosovo citizens to boycott the general democratic processes in the country, like this year’s elections.
On the other hand, President Sejdiu referred to the engagement of Republic of Kosovo’s institutions in building the houses and in providing best possible living conditions to all those who have expressed their will to return to Kosovo, reaffirming that this a Kosovo state policy.
On the other hand, having expressed his acknowledgment for the latest encouraging steps taken by Kosovo institutions to provide for the return of displaced persons, Mr. Kälin urged Kosovo institutions to maintain this engagement.
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