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During her talks with Prime Minister Hashim Thaci the Chancellor also called for continued efforts to put in place the rule of law. Steps to combat corruption too must remain on the agenda.

In view of the border dispute with Serbia in the north of Kosovo, she declared that the two states must find ways of dealing with one another that are mutually acceptable.

Seek direct talks

Hashim Thaci assured the Chancellor that his government is making every effort to build a democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo and to establish neighbourly relations with all surrounding states. “Kosovo would like to be part of the EU and NATO,” he stressed. Dialogue is the only option, the only way to resolve the dispute between Kosovo and Serbia.

Angela Merkel underscored the fact that she would like to see Serbia assuring “sensible movements of goods” between Serbia and Kosovo. Joint border controls would also be desirable. The best thing would be “to seek direct talks with the partner in question”.

Thanks to the soldiers

After her talks with the Prime Minister, Angela Merkel visited German soldiers serving in Kosovo as part of the KFOR mission. At KFOR Headquarters in Pristina the Chancellor met German soldiers for lunch.

She expressed her heartfelt thanks to them, also on behalf of “very many people in Germany”. They should be reminded, “that our security and our peace at home in Germany are secured in part by the fact that you are serving here, and are serving Germany here”.

The Chancellor was accompanied by General Volker Wieker, Inspector General of the Federal Armed Forces. She also specifically thanked the German police officers in Kosovo, the experts who are part of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), and all of their families. “We have great respect for your families back in Germany who support you,” said Angela Merkel.

Only political and military efforts together can bring about a solution, underlined the Chancellor. This, she said, had once again emerged clearly during her talks with Major General Erhard Drews, the German KFOR Commander.

Unfortunately the peaceful situation in Kosovo has once again descended into crisis over the last few months, said Angela Merkel in view of the hostilities in the north of the country along the Serbian border, where two German soldiers were shot.

The Federal Armed Forces have been deployed in Kosovo since 12 June 1999. Currently about 1,300 German soldiers and around 6.800 KFOR troops in total are stationed there.

There must be tangible signs that the process to bring peace and stability to Kosovo is gaining speed, said the Chancellor. Unfortunately this is easier said than done, she admitted, and pointed to the difficult negotiations with Serbia. 

Great interest in the Chancellor’s visit

The media interest in the Chancellor’s visit was huge. Some schools in the Greater Pristina area closed so that students could see the German head of government first hand.