The position of Slovakia towards Kosovo cannot be viewed as being hostile, European and Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák said after his Thursday meeting with Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz, who came to Slovakia for his inaugural visit.
“Our position is not hostile towards Kosovo. We engage in a whole range of activities. We offer and extend our official development aid, with delegations constantly in rotation. We support economic co-operation. In no conceivable way can our position be perceived as an obstacle for economic and social development of Kosovo or its European integration prospects,” said Lajčák. He added that Slovakia – which along with Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Romania did not recognise Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2009 – continues to monitor the development in the Balkans region. “Austrian stance is unequivocal: Kosovo needs to stand a chance of integration into the EU,” claimed Kurz. Lajčák emphasised that Austria represents an important partner for Slovakia. Both ministers broached the economic co-operation between their two countries as well as education, unemployment and current EU issues. “We're not only neighbours but rather a region on the rise. I'm glad to see our friendly co-operation and hope that it will continue in the future,” said Kurz.
