Albania, Kosovo mark 15th anniversary of NATO intervention in Kosovo

TIRANA, April 16 – The governments of Albania and Kosovo convened Wednesday in Albania’s northeastern city of Kukes to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the launch of the NATO bombing in Kosovo, that brought about its liberation from the Serbian regime of the time.
That is an annual regular event in Kukes, which served as the main basis and as a big shelter camp for hundreds of thousands of Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian brethren kicked out from the Serbian regime of the then-president Slobodan Milosevic.
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaci expressed his country’s gratitude to all Albanians at the start of a series of ceremonial events in the northeastern city.
Responding to that, Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama reminded those attending of the U.S. assistance and also thanked the joint venture made by all Albanians at the time, including the political groupings. In a rare conciliation move, Rama mentioned his predecessor of the Democratic Party Sali Berisha too for his contribution.
Hundreds of Kosovars come every year to Kukes to express their gratitude to their brethren sheltering them in the most difficult time during the 1999 exodus.
Fifteen years after both Albania and Kosovo are a step ahead toward integration into the international institutions. Albania is already a NATO member and hoping to make the next big step to the European Union with the candidate status in June. While Kosovo is in its first steps of EU integration.
Tirana and Prishtina coordinate efforts to promote the new state in the world, which is now recognized by more than 100 countries.
Tirana has pledged to raise the cooperation with their brethren to new heights and achieve concrete goals.