{"id":15460,"date":"2021-06-10T16:34:22","date_gmt":"2021-06-10T14:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/?p=15460"},"modified":"2021-06-10T16:50:06","modified_gmt":"2021-06-10T14:50:06","slug":"eu-is-not-europe-without-the-accession-of-the-western-balkan-states-declared-pm-kurti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/eu-is-not-europe-without-the-accession-of-the-western-balkan-states-declared-pm-kurti\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cEU is not Europe without the accession of the Western Balkan states\u201d, declared PM Kurti"},"content":{"rendered":"

The EU is incomplete without the membership of the six Western Balkan states, these were the remarks of Kosovo\u2019s premier Albin Kurti made in front of the media.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe European Union is not Europe, without becoming complete with the six Western Balkans states\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n

He stressed that Kosovo is a pro-European country, adding that regional initiatives are being hampered by the fact that Serbia doesn\u2019t recognize Kosovo\u2019s independence.<\/p>\n

\u201cKosovo is the most pro-European state in Europe and we are committed to our reforms. Regional initiatives are stalling as Kosovo\u2019s recognition from Serbia is missing\u201d, Kurti said.<\/p>\n

From Tirana, where he participated at the Western Balkans Summit, the head of the executive called on Serbia to recognize Kosovo.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to be integrated into the EU and NATO. Recognizing the independence of Kosovo isn\u2019t a good thing for our country only, but it is also valuable to Serbia, which is keeping itself hostage. I\u2019ve said this 13 years ago, Kosovo has declared independence from Serbia, it is now time that Serbia declares independence from Kosovo\u201d, Kurti stated.<\/p>\n

Euronews Albania journalist Eksiola Shehu asked PM Kurti what his proposal was at the meeting in Tirana.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy proposal is to go from CEFTA to SEFTA. This is the right solution raising our ambitions and regional cooperation, and within EU values, including parity amongst our states\u201d, replied Kurti.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Kurti told the media about a dispute with Serbian PM Ana Brnabic during the summit.<\/p>\n

He said that the debate arose after the Serbian premier refused to accept that Kosovo is an independent and sovereign country.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a sort of debate, let\u2019 say, because she didn\u2019t want to accept that Kosovo is an independent and sovereign state. I stressed that Serbia needs to distance itself from the regime of Slobodan Milosevic, as there is no other solution apart from recognizing the independence of the Republic of Kosovo\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n

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