During his meeting with Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Budrys raised the issue of a legal case of Lithuanian customs officer killed while serving with an international[...]

On 19 April, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kęstutis Budrys, met with Glauk Konjufca, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo. The bilateral meeting took place on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. During the meeting, the Lithuanian and Kosovar Ministers discussed intensifying dialogue with the newly formed Kosovar Government, bilateral cooperation, and pressing regional security issues.

The Minister expressed strong support for stability and security in Kosovo and throughout the Western Balkans. Lithuania contributes to NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR), where 44 Lithuanian soldiers are currently serving-this is our country's largest military contingent abroad.

According to the head of Lithuania's diplomacy, the role of NATO and the European Union in the region is crucial in preventing destabilizing Russian influence.

"Lithuania consistently supports Kosovo's path toward European integration and its aspiration to join the Council of Europe, and views your country as an important partner in building a peaceful, stable, and democratic Western Balkans region. It is very important that dialogue, reforms, and international cooperation remain the key factors in achieving long-term security and prosperity," said Budrys.

According to the Minister, Lithuania views Kosovo's progress positively. He stated that it is essential to continue with wide-ranging political, legal, and administrative reforms, and to strengthen democratic institutions and the principles of the rule of law.

The head of Lithuania's diplomacy also welcomed Kosovo's decision to voluntarily align itself with the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy and to support EU sanctions against Russia.

The Minister welcomed the EU's decision to lift all restrictive measures against Kosovo.

The meeting also raised a sensitive issue for Lithuania regarding the case of Audrius Šenavičius, a Lithuanian customs officer killed in an armed attack against international mission personnel in Kosovo in 2013. The Minister emphasized that the procedural actions carried out by the Special Prosecutor's Office in northern Kosovo last fall offer hope that the investigation will be pursued to its conclusion and justice will be served. The Ministers agreed to continue bilateral contacts on this matter, involving the Ministers of Justice of both countries.

The meeting also highlighted that, in the context of European security, the main focus must remain on supporting Ukraine by strengthening the country's position in the fight against Russia's ongoing aggression.