Key Agreement Signed Between Kosovo, Croatia

Initially, at a tête-à-tête meeting and then with relevant delegations, Prime Minister Kurti and Prime Minister Plenkovi discussed excellent bilateral relations between states and people of the two countries. Together, they discussed agreements signed today and possible new agreements that would enhance co-operation in the field of the justice, culture and education system.

Recently, in Croatia the pledge was signed to establish the Centre for Albanology Studies “Milan ♫ufflay” at the University of Zara. The Centre for Albanology Studies “Milan ♫ufflajy” will serve as an investigative platform for promoting Albanian language, history, archaeology and culture, dedicating a special place to the heritage of historian and albanologist Milan ♫uffley.

The central topic and conversation were also economic co-operation and trade exchanges, with which they discussed opportunities and areas with potential foreign investment. Prime Minister Kurti announced his counterpart for Kosovo's offer of foreign investors, in addition to sustainable economic development, democratic progress, institutional stability and improvement in the rule of law that the country has marked in recent years.

He expressed his gratitude for Croatia's continued support of Kosovo on the international level and its membership and integration into international organisations, as well as thanks for co-operation in the field of defence.

Prime Minister Kurti also announced to Croatian Prime Minister Plenkov even about recent developments in the country, with emphasis on the November 29th terrorist attack that there were civilian populations for the sake of damaging critical infrastructure, for which only the rapid and professional response of relevant institutions to the sanctions has averted the disruption or difficulty of essential services, such as currents, water and telecoms, and social, civic, economic and institutions disorder. He shared with his counterpart details about the attack, for which his method and execution, along with the seizure of arms, uniforms and symbols of the army, the devastating majority of which from Serbia and 20 other Russia are pointing to the involvement of foreign actors, as investigations of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo are continuing.

At the end of the meeting, the agreement was signed for:

-Social security and implementation protocol;

-Recognition and driver patent exchange;

-Co-operation in protection against natural, technical and technological disasters;

-The memorandum of understanding for cooperation between our forensic agencies;

-The Understanding Memo between the Croatian Police Academy and the Kosovo Academy for Public Security for strengthening co-operation in the field of education and scientific research.

In the statement to the media after the bilateral meeting Prime Minister Kurti said:

For us, Croatia is a key regional partner and reference for development. We are grateful for the continued support of the Croatian people, even before the war, during and after the war, but also for the stages about Kosovo's independence and our international consolidation. I thank Croatia for its active contribution to the security of Kosovo and peace in the region through Croatian soldiers, who are part of the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR. The values, views, and history that we share are responsible for translating them into welfare for our developing citizens of both our countries. We do it best through economic co-operation and through the co-operation of new generations; Croatian students; and Albanian students; and others from both our countries”.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Kurti was accompanied by Minister of Internal Affairs Jhelal Svecla, Industry, Trade and Intervention Minister Roseta Hajdari and Finance, Labour and Transfers Minister Hekuran Murati, and Kosovo Ambassador to Croatia Martin Berisha.

During the day, the prime minister will also meet with Croatia's President Zoran Milanovic and Croatia's Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković.

The full word of Prime Minister Kurti at the joint media conference with Prime Minister Plenkovi):

Today, we are holding an important official visit here to Zagreb, at Croatia's helm.

On behalf of the people of Kosovo and the Government of the Republic, I express my deep gratitude to the Government of Croatia for warm invitation and hospitality.

We began our visit with this warm meeting with my and Kosovo state friend, your prime minister, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi.

Along with him and our relevant delegations, we discussed fine relations and new opportunities for co-operation between our two countries.

The discussions, will and willingness that we always have for cooperation, today we return them to the agreement between our two countries, which will further strengthen bilateral ties and improve the welfare of our citizens.

These agreements that were signed include:

-The agreement on social insurance and the relevant protocol for implementation;

-Recognition and driver patent exchange;

-Co-operation in protection against natural, technical and technological disasters;

-We also signed the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between our forensic agencies; and,

-The Education of Understanding between the Croatian Police Academy and the Kosovo Academy for Public Security for strengthening co-operation in the field of education and scientific research.

Kosovo and Croatia share a genuine friendship, strong partnership and healthy alliance, based on common democratic values, commitment to peace and security in the region, and clear Euro-Atlantic orientation.

Croatia, with its courageous example, with its people fighting and shedding blood for liberation, is an inspiration to all nations who aspire to freedom, independence, democracy, integration and economic development and welfare for citizens. On this occasion, we too are proud of Albanians who have participated in Croatia's liberation war, 2832 in all, with 87 cases killed and five are still missing. There are two generals from Kosovo who took part in the liberation war, the Ademi beat and Agim Ceku, meanwhile, Tome Berisha in September 1991, formed the Albanian Warriors Brigade, among which the Navxhet Haziri and Fehmi Ladrovci were among.

So we have been together much earlier and in circumstances far more difficult than we have in this century.

For us, Croatia is a key regional partner and reference for development. We are grateful for the continued support of the Croatian people, even before the war, during and after the war, but also in the stages about Kosovo's independence and our international consolidation.

I thank Croatia for its active contribution to the security of Kosovo and peace in the region through Croatian soldiers, who are part of the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR.

The values, views, and history that we share are responsible for translating them into welfare for our developing citizens of both our countries. We best achieve it through economic co-operation and through the co-operation of new generations; Croatian students; and Albanian students; and others from both our countries.

Trade exchanges between Kosovo and Croatia have marked an increase last year, and this also proves the will for co-operation and the potential for exchange. Therefore, I am in Zagreb today, as well as Minister of Industry, Trade and Trade, and together with Prime Minister Plenkov, we will also have a meeting in the Croatian Chamber of Commerce to discuss the possibilities we have ahead for more co-operation between our countries' economics and producers, for as much as the exchange of Croatian businesses and those from Kosovo.