Albania and Serbia in ‘territorial integrity’ spat over Kosovo

TIRANA, Aug 31 – Albania and Serbia were involved this month in a diplomatic row after the Albanian prime minister was quoted as saying that, “ƴhe national unity of Albanians should be a key idea in the policies of Albania and Kosovo.”
Kosovo, which has a largely ethnic Albanian population, unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. Belgrade rejects Kosovo independence as illegitimate and is vigorously pursuing diplomatic and international court initiatives against Prishtina.
Serbia’s foreign ministry sent a note of protest to the Albanian embassy in Belgrade.
The ministry explained in a statement that it condemned in the strongest terms Berisha’s provocative statement which crudely violated Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The protest note said that statements such as Berisha’s harmed good neighborly relations and regional co-operation, the ministry said, according to Tanjug.
A day later the Albanian foreign ministry rejected Serbia’s allegations.
Albanian authorities said Berisha and the Albanian government were determined to move ahead in liberalization of free movement of people and goods and in eliminating barriers.
The Albanian foreign ministry said that co-operation between Albania and Kosovo was based on mutual respect that came naturally and aimed at European integration. “Albania supports and deeply believes that regional cooperation is a condition for European integration of the region,” the foreign ministry in Tirana said.