Albania, Kosova discuss economic cooperation

DURRES, March 10 – Albanian officials from Albania and Kosova met last weekend to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries.
Albanian Deputy Prime Minister Gazmend Oketa, Economy Minister Genc Ruli, Transport Minister Sokol Olldashi, Education Minister Genc Pollo and other lawmakers, along with Kosova Deputy Prime Minister Rame Manaj and others, took part in the conference. There were also officials from Macedonia present.
Participants agreed that closer cooperation based on the European models would be a joint step toward integration into the European Union.
All participants tried to find ways to increase trade between the two countries.
Next week, another forum on the prospects and economic developments between Albania and Kosova will be held in Prishtina. It is being organized by the Chambers of Commerce of both countries and will include top Albanian officials.
In 2006 Kosova exported 18.6 million Euros to Albania and imported 127 million Euros from Albania.
It is noted that a considerable increase in trade between the two countries has occurred. In December, 2006, Kosova exported 1.082 million Euros to Albania. One year later that figure was 1.115 million, though the percentage of total exports was lower. The same could be said for imports from Albania: 1.644 million in December ’06, or 1.2 percent of the total and 2.952 million or 1.9 percent of the total a year later.
Kosovar exports to Albania has increased from 5.1 million euros in 2005 to 9.7 million in 2006 and 20.9 million in 2007.
The imports from Albania also increased from 17.9 million in 2005 to 22.3 million Euros in 2006 and 36 million in 2007.
Albania has always made it clear that all its ports, airports and road network are at the disposal of their ethnic Albanian brethren in Kosova.
Albania is constructing a road segment that would shorten the route to neighboring Kosova and it is supposed to be complete next year.
When finished, the new road will reduce travel times to Kosova from six hours to two.
A U.S.-Turkish venture has signed a 418 million euro contract with Albania to build a 60-kilometer road segment, including a 6-kilometer tunnel, by June 2009.
The road segment would be part of a 170-kilometer highway to Kosova.
The road will run from the port city of Durres to the town of Kukes, 200 kilometers northeast of Tirana, and then to the Morini border crossing into Kosova.
The joint venture also includes construction giant Bechtel International Inc., based in San Francisco, California, and Istanbul-based Enka.
This is the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken in Albania.
Kosova remains important to Albania because most of the tourists visiting the western Balkan country are ethnic Albanians from Kosova or Macedonia, as well as expatriate Albanians returning from other parts of Europe.
Prime Minister Sali Berisha, whose government made the highway a priority, said it would serve to link Albania with Kosova, Serbia and central Europe, and beyond to Western Europe through the port of Durres. He added that the road would also help fight poverty in Albania’s poorest northeastern area where it crosses.
The current road, which has only two lanes, is slow and cumbersome as drivers must traverse potholes and winding turns, making it virtually impossible to drive at speeds above 40 kph.