Kosovo president hails relations with Turkey

By Dildar Baykal

ANKARA

Kosovar President Hashim Thaci praised relations with Turkey in an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency in Ankara, where he had arrived to attend President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's inauguration ceremony.

“Our participation in Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s presidential inauguration ceremony shows our approval of the strategic relations between Kosovo and Turkey,” Thaci said on Tuesday.

Speaking on bilateral relations and regional issues, Thaci said: "Turkey is one of the first countries which recognized Kosovo's independence. I am looking forward to our continued good cooperation."

Answering a question on combating Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) in Kosovo, he said his country will continue cooperation with Turkey in all fields, including security, defense, economics and diplomacy.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated Turkey's defeated coup on July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

In March, Turkish intelligence officers, in cooperation with Kosovo’s intelligence agency, brought six alleged senior FETO members from Kosovo back to Turkey to face charges.

Speaking about stability in the Balkan region, he said Kosovo is committed to building lasting peace with Serbia.

He added that a peace agreement between Serbia and Kosovo can be reached with support from EU, the U.S. and other allies.