The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, received the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, and Prime Minister Albin Kurti in a meeting today at the State Department in Washington.
After the end of the meeting, in a joint address to the media, Secretary Blinken said that Kosovo is a steadfast partner of the United States. He said that the two countries are working together to determine some important issues for the two states.
“We are working together to define some issues that are important to the US and your country,” he said.
Secretary Blinken said that they talked with President Osmani and Prime Minister Kurti about cooperation between the two countries, as well as about “critical issues of regional security”, but did not give more details.
He thanked Kosovo for hosting the Afghans and appreciated Kosovo’s support regarding Ukraine, appreciating President Osmani’s leadership on this topic.
“I thank you once again for welcoming the Afghans. We have seen support for Ukraine from day one, for Russian aggression there. You have worked in other aspects as well. President, I appreciate your leadership in this regard,” said Blinken.
Secretary Blinken praised the agreement between Kosovo and the Millennium Challenges Corporation that will be signed on Wednesday, at the US Congress, in Washington.
President Osmani thanked the United States for saving the people of Kosovo in the last century.
“Let me thank you on behalf of the people of Kosovo, whose lives America has saved. Our partnership has been existential throughout our history and continues to be so,” she said.
“This shows what the democratic world can achieve with the USA at the head when we face tyranny,” she emphasized.
President Osmani said that Kosovo will stand by Ukraine and will continue to support the efforts of the democratic world for the liberation of this country.
“Just as you stood by us, today you are with Ukraine. Even the people of Kosovo will stand by Ukraine, as we have proven by approving sanctions on the same day that the USA and the EU have approved. Also, we have called on all the states of the region to do the same”, she said.
“We are pleased to work together with you, to stay at the front of the defense of democracy and our common values. Together with the prime minister, we welcome the discussion on reforms, especially in the rule of law that we have started in our country”, said President Osmani.
She thanked Secretary Blinken for the support America has given Kosovo in the field of defense, mentioning the involvement of the KSF in military missions abroad together with the American forces.
After the meeting with Under-Secretary Blinken, President Osmani said that the meeting also discussed the strengthening of Kosovo’s subjectivity in the international arena, the need for Kosovo to be a member of NATO and the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. She emphasized that the US administration has been clear that the dialogue process should focus on mutual recognition, “which has been confirmed even today during this meeting”.
President Osmani said that the issue of Russian influence in the Balkan region was also raised in the meeting.
“Secretary Blinken, as well as President Biden, know very well this history of Russian intentions in our region and at no time do they divert their attention, which they confirmed to us today, so that together we can work to stop these tendencies for destabilization in our region”, said Osmani.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kurti said that in the meeting with Secretary Blinken, he requested the increase of American investments in Kosovo as well as the increase of economic and commercial exchange between the two countries.
This is the first joint meeting of this format at the State Department in Washington.
