Albania , Kosovo step up cooperation

TIRANA, Jan. 30 – The Albania government has expressed its readiness to manage Kosovo’s upper air space as the NATO control transitions to civilian control. The cooperation was offered by Albania’s Transport Minister Sokol Olldashi during meetings with Kosovo’s highest government authorities in Prishtina this week.
Discussing strengthening of transportation between the two countries, Olldashi and the Kosovo government officials agreed to work on the resumption of the direct Tirana-Prishtina flights which have been suspended after the construction of the Albania-Kosovo highway due to high costs, pledging facilitation for interested operators.
However, minister Olldashi and his Kosovo counterpart Fehmi Mujota ruled out the possibility of railway connection between the two countries for this year citing lack of funds.
Trade exchanges between Albania and Kosovo remain at low levels even after the cut in distance and a temporary ban of Serbian products in 2011. INSTAT data show Albanian exports to Kosovo in 2011 grew by 47 percent to 14.7 billion lek, ranking as the third major destination of Albanian exports but representing only 7.5 percent of Albania’s total exports.