TIRANA TIMES – TIRANA, April 22 –
Kosovo Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni held a two-day visit to Tirana to meet with top Albanian officials and discuss further strengthening of the ties between the two countries.
Hyseni first met with his counterpart Ilir Meta who said that “the developments in Kosovo and in the region, the progress of the process of recognition of Kosovo, the coordination of diplomatic efforts, the support and help for the consolidation of institutions of Kosovo, the integrating European and Euro-Atlantic processes as well as bilateral relations, were the main topics of our discussion.”
Kosovo declared independence unilaterally in 2008 and has been by the United States and most of the European Union member countries. Serbia, supported by Russia, has said it will never recognize the new state, which it considered still as its part.
“Other states are expected to recognize it also. Kosovo is also a member of the IMF and the World Bank. The independent Kosovo is an important factor for peace and stability in the region, as well as for the European perspective of the whole region,” said Meta.
Tirana has played a key part in lobbying for Kosovo.
Meta said that Tirana “expressed my maximum engagement for the coordination of diplomatic activity aiming at the consolidation of the new state of Kosovo across the international arena and the advancement of the process of recognition.”
“We praised the significant achievements in Kosovo since its declaration of independence, by putting the emphasis on the consolidation of the rule of law, functioning democratic institutions across the whole territory of Kosovo, while praising the special importance of integrating all minority communities, including the Serb one, in these institutions,” said the Albanian minister
Relations between Albania and Kosovo are excellent, according to both ministers, who added that the two countries were working through a special partnership in order to transform these relations into a model of good neighborhood in the region.
Hyseni in all the meetings discussed on the common commitment for the intensification of cooperation and joint investments in the areas of commerce, energy, infrastructure, tourism, education and culture.
Albania also hailed Kosovo’s work on the part of the Morin뮍erdare highway, which together with that of Durr쳭Morin묠will give a new dimension to our cooperation in all areas.
The two ministers said that three new border crossing points would be opened soon in order to facilitate the move of the residents in each other’s countries.
Kosovars are the bulk of the tourist number coming to Albania during summer.
The two countries share the same values and aspirations for the European and Euro-Atlantic integration and Tirana expressed the willingness to support the inclusion of Kosovo in integrating processes, including that of visas liberalization.
Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that Kosovo is already transformed and is getting consolidated more and more as a significant factor of peace and stability in the Balkans.
Hyseni and Berisha discussed promotion of the full and great cooperation between the two countries in all the fields, and especially the further increase of the economic, trade, cultural exchanges, exchanges in the field of energy and regional cooperation as well as in the framework of the European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
Berisha pointed to the importance of the two sides taking steps about a feasibility study on a second major project which would enhance the links between them, but even among the entire region, i.e. the building of the railway line between the two countries.
Berisha, accompanied by several of his ministers, is expected to visit in Prishtina on Sunday to take part in a ceremony marking the beginning of construction of the V쳭ica-Merdare highway.
President Bamir Topi said when meeting with Hyseni that Albania supported all efforts of Kosovo institutions to implement necessary reforms to enable the country to join the region on its path toward European Integration.
In a meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Latifa Akharbach, Albanian Assembly head Jozefina Topalli requested Morocco’s support in recognizing the independence of Kosovo, which, she said, “is a guarantee for stability, peace and regional integration processes.”
It was also learnt that presidents of Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro will meet in Kosovo, on the June 26-27 of June, 2010.
