Turkish parliament speaker meets Kosovar president, counterpart

Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek held meetings with Kosovo's President Atifete Jahjaga and Speaker of the Parliament Jakup Krasniqi in Pristina on Wednesday. Cicek told reporters thatTurkey had always supported Kosovo on every platform to help this country reach the place it deserved in international community. Noting that Turkey was one of the first countries which recognized the independence of Kosovo, Cicek said that besides political support, Turkey was exerting efforts for development of Kosovo in economic and commercial aspects. Meanwhile, Kosovar Parliament Speaker Krasniqi said that the cooperation between parliaments of the two countries were perfect. Noting that the relations between Turkey and Kosovo were on good level in every aspect, Krasniqi said that Turkey had been exerting efforts for recognition of Kosovo especially by Arab countries, adding that those efforts were yielding concrete results recently. We hope Turkish investments in Kosovo as well as presence of Kosovar businessmen in Turkey would increase, Krasniqi said. -"Turks supported Kosovars in good and bad," Turkish Parliament Speaker said Turkish people shared the joy of the people of Kosovo on the day the independence was declared, the same way they shared the sorrow of the Kosovar people during their difficult times. Following his meetings with President Atifete Jahjaga and Speaker of the Parliament Jakup Krasniqi in capital Pristina,   Cicek addressed Kosovar lawmakers, the General Assembly of the Kosovo parliament. Cicek stated that he was honored to visit Kosovo with a delegation from the Turkish parliament, adding addressing the Kosovar lawmakers and people in the parliament was the best reflection of the democratic Kosovo. Turkish Parliament Speaker said Kosovo was successful in establishing democratic institutions five years after its declaration of independence and the country had taken big steps in establishing a legal system at international standards. Stating thatTurkey would continue to support Kosovo in the future, Cicek said, "Turkish people shared the joy of the people of Kosovo on the day the independence was declared, the same way they shared the sorrow of the Kosovar people during their difficult times." Cicek underlined the importance of a stable Kosovo heading towards the EU and integrating with European-Atlantic institutions for the establishment of permanent peace and stability in the region. Parliament Speaker also touched on the negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia and stated thatTurkey supported the process and believed the EU accession to be an important factor. Cicek emphasized thatTurkey attached great importance to the security of Kosovo, and that there were still Turkish troops from the NATO-led Kosovo Force, adding that the Turkish support would continue as long as Kosovo needed it.