UPDATE - Turkish foreign minister meets top Kosovo officials

UPDATES WITH TURKISH FM'S MEETING WITH KOSOVO TURKS

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Saturday met top Kosovar officials.

On the second day of his two-day visit to Kosovo's capital Pristina, he met Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli, and Public Administration Minister Mahir Yagcilar.

Turkey's Ambassador to Pristina Kivilcim Kilic and other officials also attended the meeting which lasted about 35 minutes.

Separately, Cavusoglu met Parliament Speaker Kadri Veseli for 45 minutes.

Later, Cavusoglu met Kosovo Turks in the southwestern city of Prizren during his visit to the municipality of Mamusha, where the majority of ethnic Turks live.

Underlining that Turkey is doing its best in humanitarian aid, Cavusoglu said: “There are 194 countries registered in the UN. Among these countries Turkey takes the first place [in humanitarian assistance], he said.

He also announced that construction of a new mosque would be started in Pristina, and said they are also making efforts to establish a university in Kosovo.

Recalling that Turkey was the second country to recognize Kosovo’s independence, the foreign minister said: “Turkey extends the strongest support for Kosovo’s integration to international society.”

On the first day of the visit, Cavusoglu had met President Hashim Thaci.