Former Minister for Dialogue Edita Tahiri, in the capacity of the Chairperson of the Regional Lobby of Women of South East Europe (RWLSEE), is on a working visit to New York, USA, upon the invitation of UN Women to participate in the activities related to the 63^rd Session of the UN Commission on women’s status.

During this stay which involves a range of activities, Former Minister for Dialogue Edita Tahiri met with US Ambassador to the UN Cherith Chalet, with whom she discussed about recent developments in Kosovo and the region. On this occasion she thanked the US on the overall support they have been providing to Kosovo in the processes of freedom and independence, saying that the people of Kosovo will always be grateful for this support and that the US has already entered the history of freedom and independence of Kosovo as the key and strategic ally.

Discussing about the developments in Kosovo and the region, Edita Tahiri emphasized that at this time, instead of witnessing advancements and progress, there have been launched dangerous ideas of changing borders between Kosovo and Serbia which could send the whole region back, restoring old hostilities and new wars. Kosovo is categorically against the changing of borders between Kosovo and Serbia, the entire political and institutional spectrum are against, also we the founders of this state, among whom I am personally myself, are all against.

Despite the fact that the President of Kosovo Mr. Thaqi is engaged in this dangerous idea, he is lonely in this matter and has no support. Edita Tahiri emphasized that the idea of changing borders undermines Kosovo’s statehood and territory, which was won after a war and a lot of sacrifice of Albanians over a century, and the support provided by the US and Western allies was crucial in creating the state of Kosovo. The International Court of Justice internationally recognized Kosovo’s independence and its borders in 2010.

She urged the US to support Kosovo and its borders while she also sought to stop Russia and Serbia in their geopolitical ambitions to restore dominance over the Balkans through such hegemonic ideas, because the Balkan countries, including Kosovo, are determined towards their western geopolitical direction and Euro-Atlantic future.

For her part, the US Ambassador Cherith Chalet expressed the satisfaction for the meeting and welcomed the discussion and the analysis on the latest developments in Kosovo and the region. She emphasized that the United States supports the state of Kosovo on its Euro-Atlantic path and welcomes every progress in Kosovo and for the people of Kosovo as well. Ambassador Chalet also said that she will brief the US government about the content of the talks at this meeting.