Ambassador Angel says Turkey has supported EU to reach Kosovo-Serbia energy agreement

Turkey's Ambassador to Pristina, Sabri Tunc Angılı, in terms of Kosovo-Serbia tensions, said the “problem has no military solution, but can be resolved with dialogue”.

In an interview for Anadolu, Ambassador Angılı made praise for the process of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Turkey-Kosovo trade relations and the census expected to take place in Kosovo in April 2024.

Anılı said he is continuing his work with an intensive agenda in Kosovo, where he has done nearly a year's work.

I don't feel like I'm in a foreign country. Among the countries I have worked for so far, Kosovo is the closest country to Türkien in cultural terms, in terms of people's outlook on life, even in terms of the tradition of food and geography”, he said.

Voicing that they seek permanent stability and peace in the region because Turkey is a Balkan country, Angılılı stressed that events taking place in the Balkans also feel deep in Türkiye.

Anılı said Turkey is willing to contribute to the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia if the parties demand it.

Our “policy is clear, we are trying to develop equal relations and based on mutual benefits with all in the Balkans. This is the same for Kosovo and other Balkan countries. As such, it strengthens Türkies position as a reliable actor”, he said.

Anılı stressed that Turkey is conducting intensive diplomacy over the resolution of the electricity distribution dispute that has been continuing since 1999 in Serb majority municipalities in northern Kosovo.

“The energy distribution issue was one of the factors that deepened the confidence crisis between the two sides in the north, because, the energy issue always directly disturbs the public. It is a very important step that this has been overcome and a specific legal framework under Kosovo laws has been created. It is a step that can positively influence other files on the dialogue process, and at this point Kosovo and Serbia achieved a different step and being forced to act constructively, but Türkiye supported the facilitating role of the European Union (BE). I can say that we are doing intensive diplomacy with the Government of Kosovo with regard to the Kosovo Electricity Distribution Company (KEDS). This showed us that Kosovo and Serbia can take steps when both sides see that they are winning and that they are caring for their interests”, the ambassador stressed.

Anılı has stressed that the recently signed energy agreement between KEDS and the Serbian company Elektrosever, with Turkey's contribution, represents the only concrete development for this year in the process of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

Anılı said their support for strengthening the capabilities of the Kosovo Security Force (FSK) in specific areas is not against any other state, including Serbia.

“As Türkiye, like many other countries, we believe the only way to find a solution between Kosovo and Serbia is dialogue. There is no military solution for this problem, but it can be solved with dialogue”, he said.

Stressing that the NATO Peacekeeping Force in Kosovo (KFOR) is a necessary force to ensure a secure environment in Kosovo, Angaılı noted that there has been progress in the military capacity of this mission after Turkey took over KFOR command for a year since October of this year.

Speaking about trade relations between Turkey and Kosovo, Angılı said that “we think that if we diversify and deepen this economic co-operation, instead of just seeing it as trade, the employment and export of Kosovo will benefit. This will be one of the most important goals in Türkiye-Kosovo relations in 2024: deepening and diversifying economic co-operation”.

Anılı noted that Kosovo needs investments in the field of construction and energy in the coming period and stressed that Turkish companies with their experience may be important partners in this regard.

There are companies from Türkiye willing to invest here. With investments and productions being made here, they can export to the EU and the US, thus increasing Kosovo's employment and export. This makes economic co-operation among us more stable. Current Turkish investments in Kosovo are currently a significant amount of over 400m euros. In other words, this is an estimated five percent gross figure of Kosovo's local product. Turkish companies employ more than 10,000 Kosovo citizens. That's why a favourable” model appears here, he stressed.

Speaking of the importance of the census that will take place in Kosovo in April 2024 for the Turkish community in the country, Angaılı said he believes that the Turkish “community will approach the registration issue as a national issue on politics. Hopefully, we will see the real number of Kosovo Turks after the census is completed”.

Anılı added that Kosovo Turks are an essential element in the continuation of Kosovo as an independent, free and self-sufficient republic.