The Ambassador of Finland to Kosovo, Matti Nissinen, in an interview with "KosovaPress", said that it is very important to form institutions as soon as possible in Kosovo.
In the third attempt to constitute the Kosovo Assembly, the winning party of the February 9 elections, the Vetëvendosje Movement, failed twice in a row to elect Albulena Haxhiu as speaker of parliament on Saturday.
Therefore, the session was postponed again for 48 hours. The session will continue on Monday from 15:00.
“First of all, I really hope that the formation of institutions – functional institutions – will happen as soon as possible. I think we live in a global situation where new developments do not stop. They do not wait long for things to take shape. Also, the reforms that are needed here in Kosovo need to be able to move forward. So I think the sooner the better. Having a new government and a new Assembly formed would be the best for the people of Kosovo,” said Nissinen.
The Finnish Ambassador also spoke about geopolitical challenges in Europe and the importance of KFOR in Kosovo.
He highly appreciates the presence of KFOR in Kosovo, recalling Finland's contribution with over 7,500 Finnish peacekeepers over the years. According to him, KFOR remains a factor of stability and security in the region, in cooperation with the Kosovo Police and EULEX.
“If I look at it from the perspective of my country, Finland, we have been engaged in KFOR since the beginning. And we are very proud to have been part of this important operation. In total, about 7,500 Finnish peacekeepers have served in KFOR over the years. So we highly appreciate the importance of this operation. I think that even today KFOR has a very important role in Kosovo, fulfilling its operational mandate together with other entities – with the Kosovo Police and with the EU Rule of Law Mission, according to their respective mandates as security providers,” said Nissinen.
Europe is facing a new wave of challenges, with EU and NATO member states reviewing their defense strategies and international cooperation.
“I think it is in everyone’s best interest, both individually and collectively, to be vigilant in these times... This has been a long debate in Europe, and I think it also relates to the issue of preparedness and taking responsibility for our security. I have seen the comments of our political leaders in Europe, and I believe there is a strong consensus that Europe needs to increase its efforts and capacities, and that includes defence capacities. I think it is among the biggest priorities in many European countries at the moment,” he says.
Since the beginning of Russian aggression in Ukraine in February 2022, the war in Ukraine has fundamentally changed the security architecture in Europe. This crisis has highlighted the need for international unity, respect for the rules-based international order, and the protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of independent states. The conflict has had profound political, economic, and humanitarian consequences – not just for Ukraine, but for the entire continent.
For countries like Finland, which has taken a clear pro-Ukrainian line and is now a NATO member, preserving European stability and strengthening defense capabilities have become strategic priorities. The war has led many countries to reconsider their foreign policy and invest more in collective security and building a sustainable peace in Europe.
While speaking about the importance of ending the war, Ambassador Matti Nissinen says that peace must be sustainable and preserve Ukraine's sovereignty. He emphasizes the necessity to include clear elements for respecting the international order.
“Peace must be achieved in Ukraine. The big questions are when and how. We have always emphasized that peace must be sustainable and long-term, which takes into account Ukraine’s independence, its sovereignty and respect for the rules-based international order. These are some of the elements that must be in place when, hopefully, peace is achieved. There are many elements that we can talk about when we talk about peace. There are several stages in this process, how to achieve a ceasefire, what are the elements of peace negotiations and, ultimately, what is the final negotiated solution for peace. But I would like to strongly emphasize the fact that it must be a solution or peace agreement that strongly includes the interests of Ukraine and its sovereignty,” he says.
Nissinen also spoke about relations between Kosovo and Finland.
He spoke about President Vjosa Osmani's official visit to Finland, where topics such as European security, economic cooperation, and increased trade between the two countries are expected to be discussed.
“The bilateral relations are excellent. They are extremely warm and deep, and they date back many years. I am very happy to be able to build on this good foundation that we have. An example that further highlights this excellent bilateral relationship will actually be next week, when President Osmani will visit Finland for a working visit. This is another opportunity for us to further deepen the relationship and have concrete results from this visit. I think it is an excellent opportunity, for example, to talk about urgent European security issues, to discuss economic cooperation, and how to increase trade between our two countries. There are many things that our presidents can talk about next week, and I am very excited about this high-level event that will take place,” says Ambassador Matti Nissinen.