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Kosovo FM lauds relations with Kuwait

The Foreign Minister of Kosovo Enver Hoxhay
The Foreign Minister of Kosovo Enver Hoxhay

By Nawab Khan

BRUSSELS, Oct 24 (KUNA) -- The Foreign Minister of Kosovo Enver Hoxhay Friday described his country's relations with Kuwait as "very good" and said he seeks to expand and strengthen them further.
"We have a very good relation with Kuwait. I have visited Kuwait many times," he told KUNA in Brussels.
Hoxhay recalled that during his visit to Kuwait in 2012 Kuwait decided to recognize Kosovo and to make it a public position.
"Since then we have cooperation in all levels," he said, adding that Kosovo has some economic cooperation with other Gulf countries.
Kuwait and Kosovo have signed a lot of bilateral agreements, he said and described Kuwait as a "very beautiful country." He said Kosovo is in a process of state building and next year the priority will be on economic issues and "we will come up with a clear agenda what we should do in terms of economic exchanges." "We think the Gulf countries and some other countries in different regions of the world might be very important partners to Kosovo," stressed Hoxhay.
Speaking at a press conference earlier, he said 108 countries have recognized Kosovo since it gained independence from Serbia in 2008.
Earlier today he met the EU Minister for Enlargement, Stefan Fulle, and discussed the signing of a Stabilization Association Agreement with the EU as soon as possible.
"The signing will be way for Kosovo to return to Europe," he said.
The Kosovo minister came to Brussels after visiting Belgrade yesterday for the first time which he said is as "a sign of a new phase "in ties between Kosovo and Serbia." He said the process of normalization between the two countries which started two years ago is a kind of rapprochement , but there are a lot of issues still to be resolved.
"3 to 5 years from now we would be very much interested to resolve all our outstanding issues. The dialogue should have a clear end goal and the end goal for us is to have a peace treaty," he said.
"It should include Kosovo's recognition by Serbia as an independent state and our admission to the UN and membership of other organisations in Europe and the world," he added.
Hoxhay used to teach political science at the university of Pristina before becoming the foreign minister in 2011. (end) nk.ibi