ANKARA
Kosovo's parliament speaker said on Friday that Turkey was assuming an efficient role in rehabilitating relations among Serbian, Bosnian and Albanian peoples.
Jakup Krasniqi underlined importance Kosovo attached to "From Balkan Wars to Balkan Peace" project launched by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on the centennial anniversary of the Balkan Wars.
"We welcome every project that serves peace, stability and establishment of new ties," Krasniqi told AA correspondent in an exclusive interview in Ankara.
Krasniqi said Kosovo and Serbia had some problems because of Belgrade's political understanding that only attached priority to itself.
The parliament speaker said Serbian people who were living in the north of Kosovo had integration problems, however Serbian people living in different parts of Kosovo had been adjusted to political and social structure of Kosovo.
"Serbians living in the north of Kosovo have been excluded from the integration process due to Belgrade's influence," Krasniqi said.
Krasniqi said rights of Serbians living in Kosovo had been taken under guarantee by the constitution, and majority of the Serbians used that right.
"However, Serbians in the north tend to deny this right due to Belgrade's influence, and prevented other Serbians from living in harmony," Krasniqi said.
Krasniqi expressed expectation that relations with the Serbians would normalize in time, and said Serbian politicians were aware that there would be no return to the past in Kosovo but they had to confront with that reality.
On Kosovo-Turkey relations, Krasniqi said Kosovo had seen Turkey's support during the war, and Turkey's support continued after the war.
Krasniqi said Turkish giant companies and investors operated in Kosovo, and Turkey assisted Kosovo in education, health and conservation of historical heritage.
"We want to see more Turkish investments in Kosovo, and we are here to boost relations between the two nations," Krasniqi said.
Krasniqi said Turkey was one of the first countries recognizing Kosovo's independence, and Turkey exerted great efforts to enable Muslim countries to support Kosovo.
Moreover, Krasniqi said Turkey had an increasing influence in the Middle East and the Balkans, and assumed different roles in both regions.
Krasniqi said Turkey was contributing to building and strengthening democracy in countries that were experiencing Arab Spring, adding that Turkey was also influential in the Balkans by establishing new ties.
Kosovo's Parliament Speaker Jakup Krasniqi arrived in Ankara on Tuesday on a four-day visit upon an invitation by Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek.
Krasniqi was received by Turkish President Abdullah Gul, and met Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Thursday.
(Reporting by Mustafa Keles)
