Kurti promises to Turkey reconsidering Kosovo’s decision to open embassy in Jerusalem

English

Gazeta Express

01/03/2021 15:53

The Vetevendosje leader, Albin Kurti, whose party won 14 February early election in Kosovo said that opening of Kosovo’s Embassy in Jerusalem will be reconsidered. He made the statement after hosting Monday Turkish Ambassador to Pristina, Cagri Sakar, Gazeta Express reports.

“About the place where the embassy will open is an issue which needs to be reviewed considering also the documentation of the outgoing government,” according to a press release issued by the Vetevendosje. According to the Vetevendosje’s statement posted on Facebook, Turkish Ambassador has congratulated Kurti on the election results, emphasising that Turkey is interested to cooperate with the new government. “The prime minister designate, Kurti informed Ambassador on priorities of his new government and emphasised that in relations with Turkey we will focus on strengthening of our bilateral relations, especially on the economic development area,” the statement reads.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter last week to Kurti congratulating him on winning the election and said that he welcomes the position of Kurti’s party who expressed readiness to reconsider the decision on opening Kosovo’s embassy in Jerusalem.

Kosovo and Israel established last month diplomatic relations and Pristina pledged to open its embassy in Jerusalem. The move was condemned by Turkish President Erdogan. In his letter published Saturday by the Vetevendosje Erdogan told Kurti that it would be useful to avoid such a move. “Furthermore, I am pleased to hear the position of your party if takes, that if takes the power it would reconsider engagement of Kosovo on opening of the Embassy in Jerusalem. I believe it would be useful to avoid such a move, which would cause serious harm to Kosovo,” Erdogan wrote in his letter.

On Saturday, the Vetevendosje made public a letter also from the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent to the Vetevendosje leader, Albin Kurti. In his letter Israeli PM has mentioned the recent agreement between Kosovo and Israel on establishment of the diplomatic relations and the decision of Pristina to open its embassy in Jerusalem. Netanyahu congratulated the prime minister designate Kurti on winning the election and said that he looks forward to hosting Kurti to inaugurate Kosovo’s embassy in Jerusalem. “I very much welcome the agreement of our two countries signed earlier this month to establish diplomatic relations and I hope we can use the new momentum in our ties to significantly upgrade the cooperation between us,” Israeli PM wrote in his letter.

Kosovo-Israel mutual recognition came as a result of the Washington Agreement reached on 4 September 2020, with Kosovo agreeing to open its embassy in Jerusalem a move which has triggered reaction of Turkey as well as the European Union. A senior member of Vetevendosje, Glauk Konjufca, said earlier that they would consider the decision if Kosovo is conditioned by the European Union. The European Union voiced regret at Kosovo’s decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem, made as part of a broader deal brokered by the previous US administration, saying it “diverges” the Kosovo from the EU position. /GazetaExpress/