WG NCEU for Chapter 35 Press Release

With regard to the unfounded attacks related to our visit to EU officials in Brussels by Mr Besnik Bislimi, Deputy Prime Minister and Chief Negotiator of the Kosovo Government in the Dialogue process, the Working Group of the National Convention on European Union for Chapter 35 makes the following statement:

National Convention on European Union is a network of civil society organisations whose work is independent, and it does not represent the views of any state institutions, bilateral or international organisations.

Working Group for Chapter 35 actively works on monitoring, improving, and promoting the Dialogue on normalisation, as well as on reconciliation between the Albanian and Serb communities. We do not view the Dialogue as rivalry between the two enemies, but as a process that should ensure permanent peace, bring better life for all people regardless of their nationality or ethnicity, as well as European integration and economic prosperity for the entire region. The work of the Working Group is public, and all participants in the dialogue benefit from our results, including Mr Bislimi.

Putting a label on civil society organisations by Mr Bislimi is against the spirit of the Dialogue, against European values, and democratic principles. Therefore, we consider his statement must be condemned by the Kosovo Government, the European Union, and the Quint member states.