Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani has said that her country needs a credible European Union roadmap for the region’s future as part of the European family.
Her comments came in a formal sitting in Strasbourg, addressed to the European Parliament, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Osmani said that Kosovo and its people continue to look to the future, a European future, calling on for more robust regional cooperation.
“We have extended a hand of cooperation to all our neighbours and we have done so in large part because our people deserve a brighter future. To Serbs living in Kosovo, she stressed that Kosovo is your home. And we will do everything in our power to make sure that you feel protected, included, equal and heard,” she pointed out.
Kosovo’s President noted that her country wants sustainable, just peace and stability regarding sovereignty, territorial integrity as well as neighbourly relations.
In addition, Osmani said that the Balkan country is an integral part of Europe, stressing that the time has come for the Republic of Kosovo to take significant steps forward on its way to becoming part of the European Union.
She said that her country’s progress towards its membership in the EU will serve as a catalyst for peace in this region.
“The lack of integration of the democratic countries of the Western Balkans into the EU constitutes a major security threat for all of Europe, as it leaves the region vulnerable to threats and malicious actors. The integration of our region is not only of great importance but also of strategic importance,” she pointed out, as reported by Telegrafi.
Osmani noted that Kosovo’s well-deserved place in the European Union family will strengthen the very foundations on which the bloc was built and also strengthen the continent through greater unity.
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, started her speech with the words of Former Kosovo’s President, Ibrahim Rugova, “Freedom, Independence and Democracy”, becoming the first president of Kosovo to speak before the European Parliament since Kosovo’s independence in 2008.
Osmani said that “in our DNA” European values as well as the European Union spirit are engrained, stressing that such values shaped Kosovo’s past, inspire the country in the present, and also guide Kosovo towards a future where this territory flourishes as a beacon of European ideals.
In addition, she also mentioned her country’s commitment to the rule of law and justice and also to combating crime and corruption while also enhancing transparency.
As part of efforts to become a member of the European Union, on December 14 last year, Kosovo officially submitted its applications for membership in the bloc.