Sejdiu, Thaci meet with Rice

Kosovo President and PM Fatmir Sejdiu and Hashim Thaci have held talks in Washington with U.S. Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice. Rice urged Kosovo to ensure its future by building a multi-ethnic democracy, protecting minority and religious rights, and delivering economic development. Sejdiu, Thaci meet with Rice Progress by Kosovo on those fronts would lead to a situation in which "those who did not wish to see an independent Kosovo will understand ... that there is an independent Kosovo and it is going to continue to be so," she told reporters in Washington after hosting talks with Sejdiu and Thaci. Rice also pledged greater U.S. assistance to Kosovo, Reuters reports. She added that the number of countries recognizing Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence would grow from the present 43. Sejdiu expressed his hope that "Kosovo will become part of the family - the NATO family and the EU, and will have excellent relations with the United States, always." The president added that Kosovo would “continue to work, together with the U.S., towards strengthening relations between the two countries, and towards building Kosovo as a country of values, a country for all people, and a country of peace and stability.” Thaci thanked Washington for its support, and repeated that Kosovo was “a country of peace and stability” that aspired to develop relations with all its neighbors—Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, and Serbia. He said that progress had been made in the last six months with U.S. help, and promised that Kosovo would “achieve many more successes in order to become a member of NATO and the EU.” Sejdiu, Rice, Thaci (FoNet)

Sejdiu, Thaci meet with Rice

Progress by Kosovo on those fronts would lead to a situation in which "those who did not wish to see an independent Kosovo will understand ... that there is an independent Kosovo and it is going to continue to be so," she told reporters in Washington after hosting talks with Sejdiu and Thaci.

Rice also pledged greater U.S. assistance to Kosovo, Reuters reports.

She added that the number of countries recognizing Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence would grow from the present 43.

Sejdiu expressed his hope that "Kosovo will become part of the family - the NATO family and the EU, and will have excellent relations with the United States, always."

The president added that Kosovo would “continue to work, together with the U.S., towards strengthening relations between the two countries, and towards building Kosovo as a country of values, a country for all people, and a country of peace and stability.”

Thaci thanked Washington for its support, and repeated that Kosovo was “a country of peace and stability” that aspired to develop relations with all its neighbors—Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, and Serbia.

He said that progress had been made in the last six months with U.S. help, and promised that Kosovo would “achieve many more successes in order to become a member of NATO and the EU.”