The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, Ignazio Cassis, will pay an official visit to Kosovo today, as part of a diplomatic tour to three Western Balkan countries, which is being held from November 4 to 6.
According to the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations, support European integration, and promote peace, stability, and security in the region.
During his stay in Pristina, Cassis is expected to hold meetings with the President of Kosovo, Justina Shiroka-Pula, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Glauk Konjufca.
One of the main topics of discussion will be the free trade agreement between Kosovo and Switzerland, reached within the framework of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which has already entered into force.
Also expected to be on the agenda is Swiss support for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, as well as the importance of normalizing relations between the two countries.
The Swiss minister will also visit the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR. Switzerland has been contributing to this mission since 1999, through its SWISSCOY contingent.
In his capacity as the current Chairperson of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Cassis will also visit the missions of this organization in Kosovo, where he will be closely acquainted with their activities and challenges on the ground.
Swiss authorities emphasize that this visit reaffirms the close ties between Switzerland and the Western Balkan countries, strengthened over the years by the significant presence of the region's diaspora in Switzerland.
During the meetings, the importance of dialogue, dealing with the past, and guaranteeing the rights and protection of all communities in the region are also expected to be discussed.
