Minister Çitaku hosted in a meeting the Finnish delegation

Kosovo`s progress in fulfilling the criteria for starting the negotiations for the Stabilisation and Association Agreement was the topic which was elaborated in details.  In t aspects of development and cooperation processes, Finland considers Kosovo as the most important partner state in the Western Balkan’s, and therefore the interest of the Finnish delegation was to identify and provide proper support for Kosovo in order to further advance in the road toward EU integration.

Furthermore, Minister Çitaku informed the delegation on the progress in four fields identified in the Feasibility Study for beginning of the negotiation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, and the recommendation of member states that the SAA dialogue should start. Minister Çitaku went on to say that “This fulfils an old promise to a European perspective for Kosovo and all its citizens. And, we know that this is only the beginning and much remains to be done, but seeing preparation and our work to fulfil short-term criteria’s in these last month’s I remain extremely optimistic. “.The Minister also emphasized the commitment of the Government and said that now it remains in the dynamic of the work of European Union institutions to give negotiation mandate, as soon as possible, to the European Commission.

On the other hand, Undersecretary Sipiläinen emphasized that Finnish government is convinced that according to this work dynamic, Kosovo`s institutions will soon begin negotiations for the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, and expressed her commitment and the commitment of the state of Finland to continue the support for the Republic of Kosovo, in all processes. Moreover, Ms. Sipiläinen highly appreciated the commitment of the Ministry of Integration towards donor coordination in the north part of Kosovo.

Moreover, Minister Çitaku thanked Ms. Sipiläinen for supporting the institutional development of the Ministry of Integration, where during the following weeks 10 MEI officials will conduct a study visit to Finland institutions. Also, the Government of Finland and the Government of Kosovo agreed to implement a twinning project in the amount of 1 million Euros, with the support of the European Commission,  for capacity building of Kosovo`s institutions in the use of EU funds.

At the end, Minister Citaku stated that: “Whenever I meet with any Finnish delegation I cannot pass without mentioning the wise President Ahtisaari and his irreplaceable contribution to the state-formation of the Republic of Kosovo, and in a way President Ahtisaari is a synonym to Kosovo`s independence”.