"Kosovo has right to independence"

Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Zbogar said in Pristina today that his country stands by its decision to recognize Kosovo independence. After meeting with Kosovo Albanian officials, he reminded that the UN General Assembly asked for the opinion of the International Court of Justice, ICJ, on the legality of Kosovo’s independence proclamation, and that the countries of the UN will be able to give their opinions on the matter in June. "Kosovo has right to independence" “The ICJ will give its opinion which will be nothing more than that. He hope and we are convinced that that opinion will recognize Kosovo’s right to independence,” he said. “I do not think that we will turn back, just as Kosovo will not turn back,” Zbogar said in Kosovo. He told Kosovo government officials to “be active and explain to the other countries that they should recognize Kosovo as a state”. Zbogar signed an agreement with his Kosovo counterpart Skender Hiseni, for cooperation that will include aid in the development of the Kosovo institutions and scholarships for Kosovo students to study in Ljubljana. According to Zbogar, Slovenia has already invested some EUR 200mn in Kosovo and has great interest in continue investments and mutual cooperation. Hiseni thanked Slovenia for the economic help and said “the good work of the Slovenian KFOR contingent”. “We want Kosovo to be included in all the plans of the European Commission for the Western Balkans and to be included in the liberalization of the visa regime,” Hiseni said. Zbogar met with Kosovo President and Prime Minister Fatmir Sejdiu and Hashim Thachi during his two-day visit to the province, and is expected to meet with Kosovo assembly president Jakup Krasnici as well.

"Kosovo has right to independence"

“The ICJ will give its opinion which will be nothing more than that. He hope and we are convinced that that opinion will recognize Kosovo’s right to independence,” he said.

“I do not think that we will turn back, just as Kosovo will not turn back,” Žbogar said in Kosovo.

He told Kosovo government officials to “be active and explain to the other countries that they should recognize Kosovo as a state”.

Žbogar signed an agreement with his Kosovo counterpart Skender Hiseni, for cooperation that will include aid in the development of the Kosovo institutions and scholarships for Kosovo students to study in Ljubljana.

According to Žbogar, Slovenia has already invested some EUR 200mn in Kosovo and has great interest in continue investments and mutual cooperation.

Hiseni thanked Slovenia for the economic help and said “the good work of the Slovenian KFOR contingent”.

“We want Kosovo to be included in all the plans of the European Commission for the Western Balkans and to be included in the liberalization of the visa regime,” Hiseni said.

Žbogar met with Kosovo President and Prime Minister Fatmir Sejdiu and Hashim Thachi during his two-day visit to the province, and is expected to meet with Kosovo assembly president Jakup Krasnici as well.