"Kosovo won't be held hostage by nationalists"

"Kosovo won't be held hostage by nationalists"

"Our former foes have managed to delay Kosovo's access to global education and science organizations such as UNESCO, with the vehement support of North Korea and Assad's regime, who voted against Kosovo's accession to these bodies," he continues.

"Kosovo in October continued the dialogue with Serbia on normalization of relations and it signed a Stability and Association Agreement with the EU, our first formal political and trade pre-accession agreement with Brussels. Kosovo has also become an Olympic nation and will have its team competing for the first time ever in the Rio Summer Olympics. Our government has also been recognized for its stance in the fight against violent extremism and contribution to the global coalition against IS. Secretary Kerry has noted in a recent visit to Kosovo, that Kosovars are the regional leaders in combating violent extremism and promotion of interfaith dialogue," Selimi wrote, and added:

"Of course, we want the pace of change to be quicker. Though we recorded the highest average GDP growth in Western Balkans in the last 8 years, we need to deliver with European partners on other items of Euro-Atlantic agenda. Later this month the European Commission will send a team to Pristina to, we hope and expect, confirm that we have met the eight remaining criteria out of 95 needed to obtain visa-free travel to the European Union. We also hope for the next NATO Summit in Warsaw to assure Kosovars of their rightful place and role in the security architecture of Europe."

He then noted that "to implement our ambitious political and economic agenda, we do need the support of our allies in Europe and the US," and in that context, stresses that "our people need to know that they have not been forgotten by European leaders in Brussels, Berlin and London, and that our European perspective, and eventual EU and NATO membership, is real."

"In addition to visa liberalization, it is crucial to Kosovo's future that our young, educated population are given access to EU markets and policy programs as well as international multilateral instruments. Election of the former Prime Minister Thaci as President-elect of Kosovo in our National Assembly last Friday was vital to the democratic process. Democracy and the due process of parliaments should never be defeated by Molotov cocktails and tear gas attacks. Our country's interests are best served by being a full and active member of the international community and continuing the path of European integration. Kosovo's progress will not be held hostage by nationalists in Serbia and Kosovo, whose obsession with past conflicts and ethnic discourse would derail our future," Selimi concluded.