Oslo, 15 june - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, started his official two-day visit to the Kingdom of Norway by taking part at a roundtable discussion organized by the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI).

Deputy Prime Minister Thaçi discussed with Norwegian experts the key issues in Kosovo, the Balkans and beyond. He stressed Kosovo’s positive role in the achievement of progress in the Balkans.

Thaçi, accompanied by the Minister of European Integration, Bekim Çollaku, had a working lunch with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Børge Brende, and his team. They discussed many issues related to the progress in Kosovo, the region, as well as global challenges such as the fight against extremism.

“Norway has provided for years and continues to provide massive aid and political support to the Republic of Kosovo. We agreed on joint action in various areas, with particular emphasis on Kosovo’s membership in international organizations,” Thaçi said.

Deputy Prime Minister Thaçi had a meeting in the Norwegian parliament, Stortinget, where he met with members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense, who expressed great interest about the situation in Kosovo and the Western Balkans. “I presented our achievements, challenges and opportunities for our citizens exactly on this day when our country marks the Constitution Day of the Republic of Kosovo”, Thaçi said.

During his visit to Oslo, Deputy Prime Minister Thaçi gave an interview for the NUPI’s news portal.