AIIS Discusses Albanian-Kosovo Economic Relations

TIRANA, March 19 – The Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) held last Friday a forum on the “Albanian-Kosovo Relations and the Centrality of Economics” which brought together diplomats, annalists, media and NGO representatives.
The forum organized in cooperation with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation was the first of a series of other meetings the AIIS will hold on the economic relationship between the two neighboring countries and ways of overcoming current hurdles in strengthening the current relations and reorienting them.
Addressing participants, the AIIS executive director, Albert Rakipi said the forum which came immediately after Kosovo celebrated its second anniversary of the declaration of independence, aimed at consolidating the current economic relations between the two countries. “Both the Albanian and Kosovo government should have well-studied economic projects so that nothing is left to spontaneity,” said Rakipi, considering the current trade exchanges which are at minor levels.
Meanwhile, Albania’s deputy Foreign Minister Selim Belortaja said the future challenge in the relations between the two ethnic Albanian states was the removal of tariff barriers, unification of customs service, the modernization of current border crossing points and the opening of new ones. He also called for the further modernization of the infrastructure between the two countries after the construction of the Durres-Kukes highway, announcing that there was a project to build a highway linking the northern Albanian city of Shkodra to Kosovo’s Gjakova and the possible railway connection between the two countries.
Kosovo’s Ambassador to Albania Gazmend Pulaj elloborated on Kosovo’s process of recognition and the need for free trade and reduction of tariffs between the two countries.
Veteran Albanian politician Sabri Godo said Albania wanted Kosovo an independent and developed state not part of the Greater Albania, calling for the further strengthening of cooperation in academic and cultural fields.