Albania supports Kosovo territorial integrity

TIRANA, Nov. 20 – Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Edmond Haxhinasto took part at the international conference “Eastern Europe in multi-polar era” held in Kosovo to explicitly stress that no change of its borders should be considered. Kosovo declared independence in 2008 but Serbia has never recognized it and still regards the former province as part of its territory. The EU has not set that as a formal requirement for Serbia’s candidacy in the bloc, but it insists Belgrade and Pristina ease tensions by establishing “good-neighborly” relations, regardless of whether Serbia formally recognizes Kosovo. Haxhinasto considered Kosovo an example of the transformation of the Balkan region and said that Albania fully supports the territorial integrity of Kosovo in its current borders. “The division, the modification or exchange of the territory boundaries are in full contradiction with the spirit of the European integration and belong to the tragic and painful past,” he said. Haxhinasto said that Kosovo is an irreversible reality, recognized nowadays by 85 countries worldwide, a quarter of which are members of the European Union and NATO. He also called on the five EU-member countries that have not yet recognized Kosovo to take this step as soon as possible.
Haxhinasto asked Serbia to recognize the new reality: an independent and multiethnic Kosovo within present borders, adding that the Kosovo-Serbian dialogue brokered by the EU is a certificate for Serbia to get the candidate status, and also an obligation to be fulfilled.
More than 100 personalities from different countries of the world, among them foreign ministers from the region’s countries, researchers on Balkan affairs, journalists and others.
The conference was organized by the Kosovo government in cooperation with the European Council on Foreign Affairs, and the support of the British Council and UK Embassy there.