BELGRADE, Serbia

Turkish Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman on Friday congratulated Kosovo's new president, Hashim Thaci.

Kahraman arrived in Kosovo's capital Pristina on Friday to attend Thaci's inauguration ceremony.

After meeting with his Kosovar counterpart Kadri Veseli, Kahraman spoke to reporters in front of the assembly.

"On behalf of the Turkish people and parliament I congratulate the people of Kosovo," said Kahraman.

Kahraman said that since 1999 Turkey has invested about 1 billion euros in Kosovo, both as investments and donations.

A written statement issued by Kosovo parliament said Kahraman and Veseli had discussed the two countries’ commitment in the fight against terrorism and extremism as well as economic cooperation between the two countries.

The new president, Hashim Thaci, assumed his post at a swearing-in ceremony on Thursday.

Thaci, a 47-year-old former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army, which led Kosovo to independence, succeeded Atifete Jahjaga as the republic’s fifth president.

Thaci, also a former prime minister and foreign minister and ex-leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, was elected by parliament on Feb. 26.