Kosovo’s President Justina Shiroka Pula received Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis today, who also serves as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson-in-Office.
Cassis is making an official visit to three Western Balkan states — Serbia, Kosovo and North Macedonia — from November 4 to 6. Swiss authorities say the aims of the trip are to strengthen bilateral ties, support European integration, and promote peace, stability and security in the region.
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During his stay in Kosovo, relations between Pristina and Bern, economic cooperation, European integration, and political and security developments in the Western Balkans are expected to be discussed.
The agenda also includes the free trade agreement between Kosovo and the EFTA countries, which includes Switzerland and recently entered into force. It aims to create new opportunities for trade and economic cooperation between the parties.
Another expected topic is Swiss support for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and the need to continue efforts to normalize relations between the two countries.
During the visit, the minister will also meet with Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Glauk Konjufca. He will hold a joint press conference with the latter.
In his role as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Cassis will also visit the organization’s mission in Kosovo, where he will learn about the mission’s work, activities and challenges on the ground.
The program also includes a visit to KFOR, NATO’s peacekeeping mission. Switzerland has contributed to it since 1999 through the SWISSCOY contingent; its participation is part of Bern’s commitment to security and stability in Kosovo.
During his stay in Pristina, Cassis will inaugurate the new premises of the Swiss Embassy, as part of efforts to deepen relations between the two countries.
According to Swiss authorities, the visit to the region will highlight the importance of dialogue, addressing the past, and protecting all communities. Switzerland has been committed to peace, stability and security in the Western Balkans since the 1990s. Ties with the countries of the region are also considered important because of the large Balkan diaspora living in Switzerland.
After Kosovo, Cassis will travel to North Macedonia. On November 6, he is expected to meet with Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski to discuss bilateral relations, European integration and current developments in the Western Balkans.
