The Austria-Kosovo Friendship Association has been established

Vienna, 18 May 2016 – The excellent bilateral relations between the Republic of Kosovo and Federal Republic of Austria culminated yesterday with the establishment of the “Austria-Kosovo Friendship Association” which will strengthen and deepen bilateral relations between Kosovo and Austria.

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Ramadan Ilazi, Deputy Minister of European Integration, commended the establishment of this association, and in his addressing stated: “I feel honoured and privileged to participate on behalf of the Government of Kosovo. The establishment of this association reaffirms the excellent relations between our two countries”. Moreover, Deputy Minister Ilazi among other things stated that these days shall be embedded in our memory because of Kosovo’s successes. “Entry into force of the SAA, recommendation of the European Commission to remove visa for Kosovo citizens, UEFA and FIFA membership, are only some of the successes of our Republic, and today the establishment of the Austria-Kosovo Friendship Association shall help advance further Kosovo’s European agenda”

Whereas, the Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo in Vienna, Mr. Sami Ukelli, stated that the establishment of the Association is “an important step to further deepen relations between Austria and Kosovo”. Ambassador Ukelli thanked the Government of Austria and the Austrian citizens for their continuous support in strengthening the Republic of Kosovo.

The Vice President of the European Parliament and European Parliament’s Rapporteur for Kosovo, Ulrike Lunacek, who was also elected as the Vice President of Association, via a video-message commended the initiative to establishe the Austria-Kosovo Friendship Association, reaffirming her support to further advancing the integration processes of the Republic of Kosovo.

Deputy Head of the Department of Europe from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Austria welcomed the establishment of the association and reaffirmed the commitment of the Government of Austria to support Kosovo, particularly in the European integration process.

Mr. Lukas Mandl, Deputy in the Land of Niederösterreich, was elected President of Austria-Kosovo Friendship Association, on which occasion he stated: “A European Kosovo Republic is in the interest of the people of Kosovo and Europe”. Among other things, Mr. Mandl stated that “it’s worth working for Kosovo”, who has a guaranteed European future.

The Austria-Kosovo Friendship Association is an inter-party group that will be admitted in the umbrella organization PaN (Partner of all Nations) of such association. The Austria-Kosovo Friendship Association elected its steering bodies, whereby as members of the Advising Board were elected renowned Austrian personalities such as the former Deputy-Chancellor and the Expert on Balkans, Mr. Erhard Busek, former MEP Hannes Swoboda (SPO),  Brigadier General of the Austrian Federal Army, Mr. Johann Luif, and many other personalities from politics, diplomacy, culture, science and media.

Last modified: August 10, 2022