Thaci "expects Spanish recognition"

Kosovo Albanian Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said that he believes Spain would "recognize Kosovo soon". This comment came after media reports that EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told him not to expect such developments. Thaci "expects Spanish recognition" “I said earlier, and I say today that Spain will become a part of the international recognition of Kosovo very soon,” Thaci said. Solana, according to Pristina-based Albanian language daily Express, told Thaci during a meeting in Brussels last week that “the leadership in Pristina must forget about Spain recognizing the independence of Kosovo". According to the daily, the high ranking EU official also suggested that the Albanians try to ask for recognition from countries that have a “softer stance”. “Forget Spain. You should not focus on countries that have a ‘hard stance’ against independence,” Solana said, according to Express’ sources. The daily stated that Solana said that he is calling on Spain to "at least accept Kosovo passports, in order to enable Kosovo citizens to travel". But Thaci says that he "received support for Kosovo’s European future from everyone in Brussels with whom he met". “The European Union supports the progress and success of Kosovo for over a year as an independent state. This support was given by Javier Solana, European Commission official Pierre Mirel, and Czech officials as the country presiding over the EU,” Thaci said. He added that during the Brussels visit he "expressed readiness to build a democratic and multi-ethnic state of Kosovo". “I expressed our readiness to implement the necessary democratic criteria which also represents our values in the development of a democratic Kosovo,” Thaci said after returning to Pristina.

Thaci "expects Spanish recognition"

“I said earlier, and I say today that Spain will become a part of the international recognition of Kosovo very soon,” Thaci said.

Solana, according to Priština-based Albanian language daily Express, told Thaci during a meeting in Brussels last week that “the leadership in Priština must forget about Spain recognizing the independence of Kosovo".

According to the daily, the high ranking EU official also suggested that the Albanians try to ask for recognition from countries that have a “softer stance”.

“Forget Spain. You should not focus on countries that have a ‘hard stance’ against independence,” Solana said, according to Express’ sources.

The daily stated that Solana said that he is calling on Spain to "at least accept Kosovo passports, in order to enable Kosovo citizens to travel".

But Thaci says that he "received support for Kosovo’s European future from everyone in Brussels with whom he met".

“The European Union supports the progress and success of Kosovo for over a year as an independent state. This support was given by Javier Solana, European Commission official Pierre Mirel, and Czech officials as the country presiding over the EU,” Thaci said.

He added that during the Brussels visit he "expressed readiness to build a democratic and multi-ethnic state of Kosovo".

“I expressed our readiness to implement the necessary democratic criteria which also represents our values in the development of a democratic Kosovo,” Thaci said after returning to Priština.