Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen said he believes the EU will finalise the issue of visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens in the coming months, during a press conference in Pristina on Monday.
Tuppurainen said that Finland supports the Euro-Atlantic process of Kosovo and the Western Balkan region.
“We support visa liberalization. Kosovo is the only country in the Western Balkans that does not have visa liberalization and it is time to move forward. We have supported the negotiations that speak in favor of Kosovo in this regard. So I can say that I am optimistic that we will move forward in this matter and I believe that in the coming months, maybe this fall, we will see positive results,” she said.
Tuppurainen, along with Ireland’s Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, are staying in Prishtina, and spoke to reporters after meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi.
Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani also expressed optimism over visa liberalization taking place during the Czech Presidency of the European Council which started on 1 July. While visiting Slovenia, she reiterated that her country has met all the conditions and there is no need for further requirements to be laid down.
She also said Kosovo has been in constructive dialogue with Serbia and a meeting between Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksander Vucic could take place soon in Brussels.
Slovenian President Borut Pahor encouraged the continuation of dialogue and expressed support for Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic journey.
