Photo: From the right: Ambassador Mr. Drilon S. Gashi, Ms. Henryka Mościcka-Dendys, the Undersecretary of State of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosova, Mr. Faton Peci, Minister of Agriculture of Kosova. ©Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosova,
Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
On May 8 Kosova’s first consular mission was launched in the Republic of Poland, in Warsaw. Kosova’s Consulate General is led by the Ambassador Mr. Drilon S. Gashi.
From the right: Ambassador Mr. Drilon S. Gashi, Ms. Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosova, Ms. Henryka Mościcka-Dendys , the Undersecretary of State of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs ©Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosova.
Ms. Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosova, who officially opened the mission, said that it “marks a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral Kosova-Polish cooperation and fosters diplomatic ties.” She continued that Poland, as a friendly country of Kosova, has great potential for economic cooperation, exchange of students, experts, experiences in integration processes and the preservation of peace and stability in the region. Deputy Prime Minister Gërvalla also thanked Poland for its great support for Kosova membership in the Council of Europe and other international organizations.
Ms. Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosova. ©Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosova.
Ms. Henryka Mościcka-Dendys , the Undersecretary of State of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pointed out that the creation of the Kosova Mission represents an important cornerstone in strengthening relations between the two countries. Furthermore, the Minister expressed the will and commitment to intensify bilateral relations in areas of common interest and expressed her appreciation for Kosova’s assistance to Ukraine and its western orientation.
Ms. Henryka Mościcka-Dendys, the Undersecretary of State of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ©Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosova.
Mr. Drilon S. Gashi, Chief of Mission of Kosova to Poland continued: “Kosova is very grateful for Poland being a good friend in hard times – in Albanian “një mik i mirë në kohë të vështira.” Mr. Gashi shared with the author that he sees his role as working tirelessly and with conviction for Kosova and Poland to become the best of friends in good times.
Ambassador Mr. Drilon S. Gashi ©Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosova.
Poland recognized Kosova’s statehood in 2008, becoming the first Slavic country to do so. Kosova and Poland established consular relations on 8 November 2022. Poland currently has 274 troops serving in Kosova as peacekeepers in the NATO led Kosova Force. Originally, there were 800 Polish troops in KFOR.
Sources: Kosova’s Consulate General and Kosovapress
Author: Beata Bruggeman-Sękowska is an award-winning Dutch-Polish journalist, TV correspondent, author, chief editor of international journalism centre, Central and Eastern Europe Centre established in 2004 and promoting Poland and the CEE region, president of the European Institute on Communist Oppression and a sworn translator. She was born in Warsaw, Poland and has also Armenian blood and roots in Lvov, which is part of Ukraine. She has been living in Heerlen, the Netherlands since 2005.
