Kosovo takes over presidency of regional cooperation process from Bosnia

Michal Cizek / AFP

Regional connection in the economy, energy, infrastructure and people, keeping the youth at home and the promotion of young artists and tourism will be Kosovo’s priorities during the Presidency of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), which was previously held by Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Anadolu agency reported.

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli said at the ceremony that Pristina joined the regional initiative in 2014 and that it would focus its leadership on the strengthening of good neighbourly relations, overcoming the divisions and promoting the European integrations.

“Kosovo aims to contribute to peace, security, good neighbourly relations, stability, eliminating the divisions and to overall cooperation and promotion of European integration. We will closely cooperate with all SEECP member states and relevant regional and international institutions,” Pacolli said.

Valdet Sadiku, Kosovo’s department for Regional Issues at the Foreign Ministry, presented an activity timetable, saying that the first one would be a traditional meeting of foreign ministers of SEECP countries in New York at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September.

Kosovo boycotted the last meeting of the Bosnia and Herzegovina SEECP chairmanship earlier this month, and traditional ceremony of the transfer of duty was called off. 

VEZANE VIJESTI

Pristina received an invitation to attend the Jahorina summit but was told its name in the meeting's papers would be marked with a footnote saying that its status is still unresolved.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and Pacolli described such behaviour as unacceptable.