Prime Minister urges Kosovan Head of Government to expedite investigation of death of Lithuanian officer in Kosovo

Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius received the Kosovan Prime Minister Isa Mustafa who came on an official visit to Lithuania. This is the first visit of the Kosovan Head of Government to Lithuania. In the meeting possibilities of developing further trade and economic cooperation were discussed. The Lithuanian Prime Minister expressed his support for the EU-Kosovo dialogue, and emphasised the need to identify and prosecute persons responsible for the death of the Lithuanian customs officer.

“Mister Prime Minister, I welcome you on this historic visit in Vilnius. I am confident that your visit will give a new impulse for bilateral trade and economic relations. Lithuania is open for investment, and our economy is one of the fastest growing economies in the EU. I invite you to get to know the advantages of the Lithuanian business environment, and assess our countries’ geographical location which connects trade networks between East and West”, said Prime Minister Butkevičius.

The Prime Minister emphasised that our country supports the EU enlargement, therefore, it actively supports Kosovo in its negotiations with the EU, and welcomes the on-going reforms in Kosovo. But Prishtina should continue to promote ethnic and religious tolerance between the people of Kosovo. “We are ready to share our experience of the integration into the European Union by continuing to actively participate in the EU Twinning projects with the pre-accession countries”, said the Head of Government. Lithuanian institutions submitted proposals for 11 EU Twinning projects in Kosovo, and won 3 of them, as a junior partner with Germany.

In the meeting the Prime Minister noted that Lithuania continues to directly contribute to security in Kosovo by delegating its representatives to the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), as well as the NATO operation in Kosovo (KFOR). However, persons responsible for the crime, committed in 2013 when the EULEX staff member, and Lithuanian customs officer Audrius Šenavičius was killed in the line of duty, have not yet been prosecuted.

“Lithuania calls for the Kosovan institutions to expedite the investigation of the death of the Lithuanian officer. Those responsible must be brought to justice”, stressed Prime Minister Butkevičius.

The Prime Ministers also discussed matters of the EU neighbourhood policy, including the security situation in the region, illegal migration and the situation in Eastern Ukraine. Prime Ministers shared opinions on promoting cultural exchange, as well as means of encouraging daily contacts between the people of both countries.