Clinton and Ahtisaari lobby for recognition of the new state of Kosovo

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari have accepted Pristina’s invitation to lobby for new recognitions of the Kosovo since it declared its independence in 2008. Belgrade-based daily newspaper Blic reported that US $10 million have been collected for this diplomatic initiative, “which represents ten times higher than the fond allocated by Serbia against recognitions”.

The newspaper also reported that Belgrade is closely following Pristina’s new lobbying action as the increased number of recognitions could have a bad impact on the current negotiating process.

At this time Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj has been received by his Saudi Arabian counterpart, the Prince Saud Al-Faisal, and has received assurances that the Saudi diplomacy will support Kosovo in increasing the number of recognitions, especially in countries members of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Conference. A press release issued by the Kosovo Foreign Ministry says the two ministers also agreed on signing a framework agreement between the two countries.

Menawhile Slovakian diplomacy has indicated that it will not impede Kosovo’s inclusion in European Union programs regardless of the fact that Bratislava has not recognized the independence of Kosovo.

Slovakian news agency TASR reported that this primarily concerns the program Culture and Citizenship for Europe. “Slovakia holds this position because it is in its interest to create stability in the region of the Western Balkans, part of which is the Republic of Kosovo,” TASR reported.

While, Integrations Minister Vlora Çitaku has expressed concern over the EU’s position towards Kosovo. She said Kosovo is fulfilling its obligations and is even more successful in this that certain other states in the region that have already gained visa liberalization.

“As of January of this year, we will not benefit from autonomous trade measures which Kosovo has enjoyed since 2000 but this is not because of the state of Kosovo and its government, but because of redefinition of relations between the European Council and Commission now that the Lisbon Treaty has entered into force,” said Çitaku. “It is true that, unfortunately, Kosovo remains the only country in the Western Balkans without contractual relations with EU,” said Çitaku adding that European perspective for Kosovo has however been reconfirmed many times.