Did Merkel ask you to join the Balkan Open? No.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti after meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel says she has said something about economic development in Kosovo, Periscopi broadcasts.

I told Merkel that Kosovo is growing economically after we produced institutional stability, Kurti said before the media from Tirana.

No, it was the answer as Kurt's most puzzled after the question, "Merkel asked you to become part of the Balkan Open."

I thanked Merkel for her extraordinary role in dealing with the Balkans and Kosovo. We need even greater co-operation between Kosovo and Germany. He didn't ask me to get involved in this process. Kosovo is a sovereign state and whatever co-operation is carried out is done in line with our” interests.

He also said Serbia should be understood for not recognising Kosovo.

The difference between the Berlin and the Balkan Open Process is that in the second time we have the EU inside and it should also be stressed that the Republic of Kosovo is an independent state for which all of us should be engaged and wherever we are to seek it and not to express consensus for Serbia for non-recognition of Kosovo, any consensus towards Serbia for non-recognition of Kosovo costs Kosovo. We will have a meeting between the two governments and Albania as soon as the government is formed here we will meet and we have no number of things that bring us together and unite us, but of course the questions are about one that separates us”, he said. PERISCOP/