Albanian president calls for Kosova independence

STRASBOURG, Jan. – Albanian President Bamir Topi spoke Wednesday at a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) where he called for the immediate granting of independence to Kosova.
The Albanian leader urged the European Union and NATO to support Kosova’s independence, if the U.N. Security Council could not do that. According to Topi, “after the disintegration of Yugoslavia, Kosova remained the only Balkan territory, artificially integrated in another country. It can no longer be a hostage of its status.” He also said that the plan of Marti Ahtisaari, which provides for the granting of independence to Kosova under international control, is the only way to resolve the Kosova problem. Topi also reaffirmed that Albania would observe internationally recognized borders in the Balkans, including with independent Kosova. Albania’s possible NATO membership was the other topic mentioned by Topi.
The Albanian president said that he was of the opinion that his tiny Balkan country deserved the membership invitation at the Bucharest summit stressing the fact that all political factors, civic organizations and the population supported such a membership.