On Tuesday 23 March 2010 HE Mr Skender Hyseni, Foreign Minister, Republic of Kosovo spoke on 'Kosovo’s Independence: Two Years On - Achievements and Challenges'.
Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni will discuss the achievements of Kosovo during the first couple of years of its independence. Dwelling on the opportunities and challenges ahead, he will tackle many issues, including further international recognition for Kosovo and its case before the ICJ; Kosovo’s aspirations to integration with the EU and NATO, as well as UN membership; the democratic process and local government reform; inter-ethnic relations and relations with current international civilian and military presences in Kosovo; and embarking upon fully-fledged economic development.
Born in 1955 Mr Skender Hyseni graduated in English from the University of Prishtina in 1978. He also studied at Bloomsburg State College, PA, USA (1978) and the University of Aberdeen, Scotland (1986).
Mr. Hyseni began his political career with the founding of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) in 1989, led by President Ibrahim Rugova. He became one of Dr. Rugova’s key advisors and a member of the Kosovo delegation at the Rambouillet Conference on Kosovo in 1999. He served as the principal political advisor to President Rugova until the President’s death in 2006, and he continued to hold this position with the new President, Dr. Fatmir Sejdiu until late 2007.
A member of all Kosovo delegations to the Kosovo’s status talks (2005-2007), and a spokesperson of the Negotiation Team of Kosovo, Mr. Hyseni was elected a Member of Parliament of Kosovo on November 17, 2007. In the first session of the new legislature he was elected Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport.
He is a member of the Presidency of the Democratic League of Kosovo and chairs the LDK Foreign Affairs Committee. Minister Hyseni is also a member of the Constitutional Commission of the Republic of Kosovo.
On April 3rd 2008, Mr. Skender Hyseni was elected Foreign Affairs Minister of the Republic of Kosovo.
This meeting was chaired by Dana Allin, Senior Fellow for US Foreign Policy and Transatlantic Affairs, IISS and will take place on the 4th Floor at Arundel House, 13–15 Arundel Street, Temple Place, London WC2R 3DX.
