Eurasia Press & News
Ahead of a second meeting of Kosovo and Serbian prime ministers in Brussels, Croatian leader Zoran Milanovic has offered to help ease the dialogue.Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic has expressed support for the continuation of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and has offered his help, saying that Croatia has good relations with both countries.
“I believe that the Belgrade government will be reasonable and pragmatic in its talks with Pristina,” Milanovic said after meeting his Kosovo counterpart, Hashim Thaci, on Tuesday.
Croatia recognized Kosovo in March 2008, a month after Kosovo proclaimed independence. So far, the Serbian former province has been recognised by 92 out of 193 UN member states including the US and 22 out of 27 EU member states.
The meeting in Zagreb came a day ahead of Thaci’s second meeting with Serbian leader Ivica Dacic in Brussels.
The EU-mediated talks, aimed at normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia, started last March.
So far, the two sides have reached deals on freedom of movement, university diplomas and regional representation. However, not all the deals have been implemented.
At the meeting in Zagreb, Thaci thanked Croatia for having recognised Kosovo and expressed hope that Croatia and Kosovo will improve economic cooperation.
“We are a young country and are open to Croatian investments,” Thaci said after the meeting on Tuesday.
Thaci is also to attend the Kosovo-Croatia Business Forum on Wednesday.
Mimoza Kusari, Kosovo’s deputy premier and Minister for Industry and Trade, and Besim Beqaj, Economic Development Minister, are to sign a contract on economic cooperation between Kosovo and Croatia.
