site.btaVice President Iotova Talks with Kosovo's New Ambassador Bajraktari

At a meeting here on Wednesday, Vice President Iliana Iotova and Kovoso's new ambassador to Bulgaria, Haxhi Bajraktari, discussed peace and security in the Balkans, the strengthening of bilateral relations, and the rights of the Bulgarian community in Kosovo, among other topics. On this date a year ago, Iotova was in Kosovo at the invitation of President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, the President's Press Secretariat reported.

Iotova and Bajraktari noted the bilateral contacts at the highest political level, and mentioned the Bulgarian President's visit to Pristina in late December 2023. The sides agreed that greater activity is needed to develop the bilateral cooperation in various fields.

The Ambassador thanked Bulgaria for its consistent position in support of peace in Kosovo and his country's international and EU integration. Iotova recalled that in 2018, the Bulgarian EU Council Presidency put an emphasis on the topic of the Western Balkan countries' European future. "If there is no stability and peace in the Balkans, there is no stability and peace for the whole of Europe," Iotova stressed.

The talks focused on specific steps for the recognition of the Bulgarian community in Kosovo as well as its inclusion in the Consultative Council for Committees with the President. Bajraktari assured Iotova that the authorities will take all necessary measures to prevent pressure on the self-determination of Kosovo citizens with Bulgarian self-awareness in the forthcoming census. The Vice President said she is convinced that the various ethnic communities are a country's and a nation's treasure. The Ambassador described the Bulgarian community as a natural bridge between the two countries that contributes to the strengthening of bilateral relations.

Iotova proposed the organization in Sofia of a Balkan festival that will present the Balkan peoples' culture, with a focus on Bulgarian communities living in the Balkans.