Kosovo and Turkey Sign Four Agreements

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed bilateral agreements today in the areas of transport, agriculture, education and the environment.

“Prime Minister Thaci and Prime Minister Erdogan appraised highly the bilateral cooperation between the countries and stressed the readiness to increase co-operation in all fields,” Kosovo’s prime minister said in a statement on his website.

“On the occasion the Turkish side expressed its supported for Kosovo’s territorial integrity and promised to support Kosovo in Euro-Atlantic institutions.”

The memorandum of understanding on transport was signed between Kosovo’s Transport Minister Fatmir Limaj and his counterpart Binali Yildirim.

This memorandum will help create facilities for the free movement of passengers and goods and it will eliminate barriers in the field of transport.

PM Thaci also met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, and the latter said that Turkish diplomacy would continue to lobby for recognitions of Kosovo’s independence.

Thaci travelled to Turkey with Limaj, Education Minister Enver Hoxhaj, Trade Minister Lutfi Zharku, Environment Minister Mahi Yagcilar and Minister of Agriculture Blerand Stavileci.

Before leaving for Turkey, the prime minister’s luggage and that of his ministers was checked thoroughly by EULEX customs officers, Pristina daily Zeri writes.

The daily also reported that the government officials had to walk several metres to reach the aircraft because their vehicles were not allowed to proceed to an area closer to the aircraft as they usually do.

“Kosovo and EULEX Customs Officers, in cooperation with airport security, carried out x-ray checks of luggage in the VIP area in Pristina Airport today,” EULEX spokesperson Blerim Krasniqi was quoted by Zeri as saying.

Krasniqi said that the procedures were legal without giving any explanation as to whether the checks were carried out for any particular reason.