CFSP Statements

Presidency Statement on the Election of Fatmir Sejdiu as President of Kosovo

The Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria, Ursula Plassnik, speaking on behalf of the Presidency of the EU welcomes the election of Mr. Fatmir Sejdiu as President of Kosovo. His election today, coming so swiftly after the end of the mourning period for the late President Ibrahim Rugova, signals stability and continuity and marks an important step towards the further consolidation of Kosovo's political life. The Presidency expects that the election of Mr. Sejdiu will strengthen the commitment of Kosovo’s negotiation team to participate in the next round of direct talks with Belgrade which are due to resume in Vienna on 20 February. The Presidency further calls upon Kosovo-Serb leaders to take the election of Mr. Sejdiu as an opportunity to rejoin the Kosovo political process.

At the same time, the Presidency also underlines the need for further progress on the implementation of standards. Building a sustainable democratic and multiethnic society is a prerequisite for the fulfilment of Kosovo’s European perspective.