Kosova Prime Minister Albin Kurti met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York during activities surrounding the United Nations General Assembly. The Turkish Presidency also confirmed the meeting. Kurti said they discussed the recent ruling by the Kosova Specialist Chambers in The Hague against former KLA leaders Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. The court sentenced the four to a combined 81 years in prison.

Kurti described the ruling as “legally and morally unjust” and “historically and factually inaccurate.” He said the issues he raised should be corrected during the appeals process. Meanwhile, Kurti thanked Erdogan for Turkey’s continued support for Kosova, particularly in diplomacy, military strengthening and defence industry cooperation. He also thanked Turkey for supporting Kosova’s NATO membership bid.

Kurti said economic relations between Kosova and Turkey have expanded. Bilateral trade has reached about 1 billion US dollars, while Turkish investment in Kosova has also increased. At the end of the meeting, Kurti said he invited Erdogan to visit Kosova.

/a.p./