Albania ‘flirts’ with Serbia

TIRANA, Oct 7 – Albania’s Foreign Minister Ilir Meta and his Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremic met earlier this week while on an international conference in Budapest, Hungary.
Both ministers talked on how to strengthen cooperation between their two countries.
They met on the sidelines of a regional conference of the so-called Visegrad states in Budapest on Tuesday. They also held a joint press conference.
A foreign ministry statement said the meeting was held following a request from Jeremic.
While the countries hold diametrically opposed views on Kosovo’s independence, the Albanian minister underlined, that, “Ƌosovo’s future, similarly to the future of the region, is European”.
Kosovo declared independence on February 17, 2008, and has been recognized as a sovereign state by 62 countries, including the US and a major part of the EU, but Berisha considered Kosovo’s prospects in NATO and the EU as the best way that would offer to the Kosovo government and the people an “excellent road map” for the reforms in consolidating the new state.
Belgrade maintains that it remains an integral part of Serbia. Source
Meta and Mr. Jeremić agreed to advance and materialize the relations between the two countries at all areas of mutual advantage and in the EU integration process as well.
Jeremić invited Meta for an official visit to Belgrade, which was accepted with pleasure by Meta.
Meta and Jeremić agreed to complete as soon as possible the legal frame of bilateral relations, as a necessity for the further enhancement of cooperation in the field of economy, trade cooperation and at other areas.
The cooperation between Albania and Serbia was considered by both counterparts of a special importance in strengthening peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
Meta stated that despite the different positions held by both countries on this issue, Kosovo’s future is a European future, equally certain with other countries in the region.
The two ministers agreed to improve relations in all areas of mutual interest, and in the EU integration process.