Foreign affairs minister George Vella in Kosovo

Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella is in Kosovo for official talks with government representatives.

In a statement, the ministry said that this was the “very first visit of its kind” by a Maltese minister for foreign affairs. Malta was among the first countries to recognise Kosovo as a sovereign country in 2008.

Vella held high-level discussions with the President and the Prime Ministe among others.

In welcoming Vella to Pristina, President Atifete Jahjaga stated that Malta’s support to the reform process underway in the country, as well as the country’s European aspirations, was a source of encouragement to Kosovar authorities.

On his part, deputy prime minister Thaçi referred to Malta as a model for several countries in the Western Balkan region which are presently undergoing reforms on various fronts with the ultimate goal of accession to the European Union.

Vella underlined the importance that Malta attaches to the Western Balkan region, both in bilateral and regional terms.

He also said that, during its Presidency of the Council, Malta will continue to very closely follow developments in the region with a view of deepening engagement.

He also encouraged all political actors not to stand in the way of good neighbourly relations for the benefit of regional stability. Vella added that Malta fully supported the efforts being made by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini in the framework of the High Level Dialogue with Serbia.

Vella signed a Cooperation Framework between the two Ministries for Foreign Affairs which addresses the sharing of best practices, expertise and training.

The Framework also identifies means through which concrete collaboration in the fields of education, culture, commercial exchanges and health can also be explored.

Vella will tomorrow be addressing the Germia Hill Conference on Stability in South Eastern Europe as keynote speaker.