Albania, Montenegro say Kosova division creates chain reaction

TIRANA, Nov 25 – Albania and Montenegro were of the same opinion Tuesday that any division idea on Kosova would crate a dangerous chain reaction in the once-troubled region.
Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic made a visit to Albania to meet with his Albanian counterpart Sali Berisha.
Kosova was a main topic of discussion during Djukanovic stay.
Berisha said that the UN 6-point plan presented some serious problems and created the impression of a soft division of Kosova. “I don’t believe that is the aim of the UN Secretary General (Ban Ki-Moon) and of the EU. But even an impression as such is dangerous and problematic,” said Berisha.
He added that the idea of creating a ‘super-minority’ in the Balkans, which is the Serbian one, is “absolutely damaging.”
Berisha said that Serb nationalism in Belgrade, and not the Serb minority in Kosova, continued to remain a problem in the Balkans.
The Albanian premier also urged the international community to discuss projects with more actors “because acts of destabilization have a high cost.”
Djukanovic also acknowledged they were following the Kosova developments with concern.
“I hope the Security Council will involve the 4-point plan (from Kosova) together with the 6-point plan and find a reconciliatory project,” he said.
“Finding the Kosova’s division as a solution would create a chain reaction,” he said.
Kosova’s population is 90 percent ethnic Albanian. The remaining 120,000 Serbs refuse to cooperate with Albanian-run institutions.
Albania is a supporter of neighboring Kosova, which declared independence from Serbia in February and was recognized by 52 countries, including the United States and the major EU powers but not Russia.
Kosova has accepted the idea of EULEX deployment but rejected Ban’s plan as violating its constitution and resulting in a de facto partition of Europe’s youngest state.
Berisha said he hoped the U.N. Security Council would find a compromise between two plans, one favored by Serbia and another proposed by Kosovo.
Djukanovic discussed on possible intensification of the overall ties between the two countries and their European and euro-Atlantic aspirations.
Both countries have said they want to become one day members of the NATO and the European Union, a process in which they are at different stages.
Economic cooperation, energy ties and infrastructure were some of the main topics.
Protecting the Shkodra Lake environment was also a main concern for both governments, they said.
Both countries have tourism potential in which they want to strengthen ties.