On the sidelines of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Summit in Sofia, the Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, held a strategic bilateral meeting with the newly sworn-in President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Iliana Iotova.
Acting President Haxhiu extended her warmest congratulations to President Iotova on officially assuming office earlier this year. She expressed the deep gratitude of the citizens and institutions of Kosovo for Bulgaria’s steadfast, long-term support toward Kosovo’s state-building efforts, its international consolidation, and its definitive Euro-Atlantic trajectory.
Navigating Kosovo’s European and Security Milestones
The diplomatic dialogue between the two heads of state concentrated heavily on paving concrete paths for Kosovo’s regional and continental integration. According to an official press release from the Presidency:
“The meeting focused on mapping out Kosovo’s next milestones in the European integration framework, securing continuous backing for its ongoing membership bid into the Council of Europe, and emphasizing the critical importance of a clear, structured roadmap toward NATO accession.”
Haxhiu underlined that integration into Euro-Atlantic security structures is not just a political goal, but an existential necessity for ensuring long-term stability across the Western Balkans.
Deepening Multi-Sector Bilateral Relations
Beyond high-level geopolitical security, the leaders discussed expanding practical, day-to-day cooperation to benefit both nations.
Key Areas of Targeted Collaboration:
- Defense & Regional Security: Joint alignment on defense mechanisms and strategic training.
- Economic Exchange: Fostering stronger trade corridors, business partnerships, and mutual market investments.
- Education & Innovation: Structuring academic exchanges and joint professional training initiatives.
Acting President Haxhiu emphasized Prishtina’s keen interest in moving from high-level institutional dialogue to concrete agreements that actively bridge connections between the businesses, civil institutions, and citizens of Kosovo and Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian Minority in Kosovo
The meeting also dedicated a significant portion of time to discussing the status and rights of the local Bulgarian community living in Kosovo.
Acting President Haxhiu firmly reiterated the unwavering commitment of Kosovo’s institutional framework to upholding the highest standards of minority rights. She emphasized that the state remains actively dedicated to securing the comprehensive inclusion, protection, and proactive participation of all non-majority communities within Kosovo’s public, institutional, and democratic life.
