Turkey to scrap visas, continue lobbying for Kosovo

Turkish FM Ali Babacan said in Pristina on Tuesday that Turkey would continue to lobby for Kosovo independence at the Organization of the Islamic Conference. "Together with the other members of the international community, Turkey treated the Kosovo issue as a pressing matter from the very beginning, and it was one of the first countries that recognized its independence," Babacan said following his talks with Kosovo Prime minister Hashim Thaci. Turkey to scrap visas, continue lobbying for Kosovo "All that is a reflection of the relation between our two nations," he said. "We are pleased to see Kosovo become part of the international community," the Turkish foreign minister said, adding that the people in Kosovo were aware of the importance "their country had in contributing to the stability of the neighboring states and the region as a whole". He said that he had arrived on a "historic visit to Kosovo, with which Turkey has historical ties", and added that his country was interested in establishing political, economic and cultural cooperation with Kosovo. Babacan also addressed an extraordinary session of the assembly in Pristina, to say that his country will continue to support Kosovo, and that it will "lift the visa regime for its citizens". "A number of Turks live in Kosovo, who have found their place in the government and the assembly, as well as in local governments," he said, and thanked the Kosovo Albanian authorities for enabling the Turks to integrate into the society. At the same time, a large number of Albanians live in Turkey, Babacan said, and added that they "influenced the issue of Kosovo to be treated with more interest".

Turkey to scrap visas, continue lobbying for Kosovo

"All that is a reflection of the relation between our two nations," he said.

"We are pleased to see Kosovo become part of the international community," the Turkish foreign minister said, adding that the people in Kosovo were aware of the importance "their country had in contributing to the stability of the neighboring states and the region as a whole".

He said that he had arrived on a "historic visit to Kosovo, with which Turkey has historical ties", and added that his country was interested in establishing political, economic and cultural cooperation with Kosovo.

Babacan also addressed an extraordinary session of the assembly in Priština, to say that his country will continue to support Kosovo, and that it will "lift the visa regime for its citizens".

"A number of Turks live in Kosovo, who have found their place in the government and the assembly, as well as in local governments," he said, and thanked the Kosovo Albanian authorities for enabling the Turks to integrate into the society.

At the same time, a large number of Albanians live in Turkey, Babacan said, and added that they "influenced the issue of Kosovo to be treated with more interest".