European integration of the region cannot conclude without Kosovo
15 May 2013 News
“The European integration of our region cannot be complete without Kosovo participating in this process,” Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Marin Raykov said at a joint news conference with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, who was on a one-day working visit to the country.
“The agreement signed in April to normalise relations between Priština and Belgrade gives us hope for the future of the two countries in the EU,” Marin Raykov said, adding that Bulgaria strongly supports the opening of negotiations between Kosovo and the European Commission on the signing of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
Hashim Thaçi said that the main goal of Kosovo was to join the European and Euro-Atlantic structures as soon as possible, while building good neighbourly relations with all countries of the region.
“We cannot be good partners in the EU and NATO if we are not good partners with our neighbours,” he said.
The two Prime Ministers agreed to begin preparations for the signing of a Memorandum of Co-operation between Bulgaria and Kosovo in the field of European integration.
“As an EU Member State, Bulgaria is called upon to assist in achieving the European perspective of the Western Balkans,” Marin Raykov said.
The Prime Ministers of Bulgaria and Kosovo also discussed bilateral economic relations and opportunities to deepen them.
“Although the trends being seen are positive, we must work to accelerate the pace, as this will also help the development of infrastructure between the two countries,” the Bulgarian Prime Minister said.
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