Vice President of the Kosovo Assembly and Head of the Kosovo’s Delegation to NATO Mr Xhavit Haliti opened and moderated the seminar, delivering the welcome speech.

His speech was followed by addresses of Swiss Ambassador to Kosovo Mr Jean-Hubert Lebet, Vice President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Mr Paolo Alli and President of the Kosovo Assembly Mr Kadri Veseli. Ms Nataliya Apostle, Head of European Union Office in Kosovo/European Union Special Representative for issues of assessment of the European perspective of Kosovo, also made introductory remarks.

The first session on the topic: “European integration and process of reforms” was moderated Mr Elmi Reçica, Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Assembly of Kosovo. The following also took part in the session: EULEX Head of Mission Ms Alexandra Papadopoulou, who spoke on the topic of “Rule of law in Kosovo”; Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo Mr Jan Braathu on the topic “Strengthening the effectiveness of the institutions in Kosovo” and Programme Director and Senior Researcher at Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED) Ms Ariana Qosaj Mustafa on the topic “Interior political challenges in Kosovo”.

Within this topic, the participants discussed the issues relating to reforms of Kosovo in the context of European integration, with special emphasis on the current political developments in this area and ratification of the Agreement on border demarcation between Montenegro and Kosovo, the consolidation of democratic institutions and internal political challenges, the rule of law, public administration reform, human rights and protection of minorities.

The second session titled: "Progress in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina" was moderated by Deputy Chairperson of the Economics and Security Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Mr Franklin van Kappen from the Netherlands. Ms Edita Tahiri, Minister without Portfolio and Chief Negotiator of Kosovo in the Dialogue with Serbia, spoke on this topic from Pristina’s point of view. President of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce Mr Safet GerxhaliuIn and President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr Marko Čadež spoke on this topic, placing a special emphasis on the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and its implications on economic conditions. This was followed by the time determined for the discussion of participants. Within this sessions, participants of the gathering were addressed by Mr Dušan Radaković, Director of the Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture, who spoke on the topic: "Civilian oversight and support to Belgrade-Pristina dialogue”.

This seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly is aimed at providing dialogue at parliamentary level among main legislators of NATO countries and their counterparts from partnering countries on security issues and providing current information from the said field. 

The 93rd Rose-Roth Seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, supported by the Swiss Government, will bring together around 130 participants, namely representatives of governments and international organisations, non-governmental sector, universities and representatives of public opinion.

The Rose-Roth seminar will be continued tomorrow.