Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that his government was ready to mediate in talks between Pristina and Belgrade to help stabilise the Balkans.
We are ready to do what is needed as our contribution to talks between Kosovo and Serbia, which in turn would contribute to stability and security in the Balkans, Erdogan told a press conference in Pristina where he had arrived on Wednesday for a two-day visit.
Erdogan said that Turkey would support Kosovo's NATO membership bid, noting that a 530-strong Turkish contingent was deployed in Kosovo as part of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission.
Erdogan met with outgoing Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, describing relations between Turkey and Kosovo as excellent.
Turkey was among the first countries to have recognised Kosovo as an independent state and established diplomatic relations with it. It has also provided strong economic support.
