Erdogan on Balkan borders, Turkish reaction

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Pristina that he "does not believe there will be changes of borders in the Balkans" or a partition of Kosovo. Erdogan, whose country recognized the Kosovo Albanian unilateral declaration of independence, said such a turn of events would be "detrimental to the region". Erdogan on Balkan borders, Turkish reaction "However, if something of the kind were to happen, then the Balkan state which has more than 70 million inhabitants (Turkey) will say its piece," he stated. Pristina-based Albanian language Koha Ditore also reports that Erdogan said ideas of changes of borders in the Balkans jeopardized peace and stability in the region. And while he and his host, Hashim Thaci, several times noted that Turkey was the first country to recognize Kosovo, the newspaper says that according to a Pristina government website, "this is not the case". Erdogan's visit was the first of a Turkish premier since the UDI in early 2008. Erdogan in Pristina on Thursday (Beta)

Erdogan on Balkan borders, Turkish reaction

"However, if something of the kind were to happen, then the Balkan state which has more than 70 million inhabitants (Turkey) will say its piece," he stated.

Priština-based Albanian language Koha Ditore also reports that Erdogan said ideas of changes of borders in the Balkans jeopardized peace and stability in the region.

And while he and his host, Hashim Thaci, several times noted that Turkey was the first country to recognize Kosovo, the newspaper says that according to a Priština government website, "this is not the case".

Erdogan's visit was the first of a Turkish premier since the UDI in early 2008.