TIRANA TIMES
TIRANA, June 28 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha had a working dinner with Kosoco Prime Minister Hashim Tha詠on Sunday. Cabinet ministers of integration, interior, economy and finance from both sides were also present.
European prospects were the main issue of their talks.
“The alpha and omega of the dinner was the European perspective, Albania’s and Kosovo’s integration processes, bilateral cooperation in the context of the EU integration process, visa liberalization, and all processes based from beginning to end on performance, merit and in setting European standards in Albania and in Kosova like the vital interest of the citizens of our countries,” said Berisha.
The Albanian prime minister hailed the great progress of independent Kosovo and its major contribution to peace and stability in the Balkans, also stressing the good inter-ethnic neighborhood in Kosovo.
Berisha said that the aspirations of the citizens of the two countries for integration into the EU were strong promoters of this major obligation of the governments of the two countries.
“We agreed with Tha詠to exchange every document, law, platform, project and program to the best interest of this process, to provide every technical assistance so that this process is based from beginning to the end on the best standards.”
Tirana has strongly lobbied for Kosovo recognition since its independence two years ago. Now 69 countries have recognized Kosovo as an independent country, including the United States and most of the European Union member countries. Serbia, supported from Russia, has not recognized it.
The two delegations discussed on intensification of economic relations and cooperation in infrastructure and energy.
Thaci said they had informed their hosts with the steps Kosovo was “taking to consolidate the newest state, to advance Euro-Atlantic integration processes, regional cooperation we have built with all the countries of the region, the process of economic development and all these commitments so that to respect and enforce the democratic political, economic and legislative benchmarks for integration.”
He said Kosovo was making all the efforts to get integrated into the NATO, the EU, and in the near future in the UN.
Thaci said that Kosovo was waiting for the verdict from the International Court, but added that “three issues cannot be questioned. Firstly, we shall work with our partners EULEX, NATO to improve situation in Northern Mitrovica so that there prevails law and order, democratic commitments, free elections in the three respective communes, the implementation of Ahtisaari document and additional social-economic commitments. Likewise, the political status is a settled issue for good and Kosovo territorial integrity is acceptable, internationally recognized and sacred.”
Thaci said that “Albania’s successful experience will be a great assistance for Kosova so that it integrates into Euro-Atlantic structures, but this time with the clear agenda of dialogue for visa liberalization, then for trade relations and stabilization-association process and side by side with these even partnership for peace and the action plan.”
Tirana and Pristina insisted on the necessity to preserve the “territorial integrity” of Kosovo, warning of the danger of a possible partition of the breakaway Balkan territory.
“A dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade is inevitable but there will be no negotiations of the issue of Kosovo’s territorial integrity,” Berisha said.
Berisha said that the “current borders in the Balkans are of vital interest to the states in this region and any effort to modify them will open new conflicts in the region.”
Tha詠said that the independence of Kosovo “is a solved question and is not negotiable.” “We are firm in our stance that the territorial integrity of Kosovo is and will be untouchable,” he added.
Berisha and Tha詠said they were “confident” that the ICJ ruling would be in favor of Kosovo’s independence.
