Basha debates with Serbian counterpart at Athens meeting

TIRANA, April 10 – Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha had to exchange a political fight with his Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremic at a meeting held in Athens, Greece.
Basha was taking part at the 12th roundtable of The Economist held April 9-10 in Athens focused on Orienting Global Agenda Toward 2020.
Talking on Kosova, integration into NATO, EU and the regional cooperation were the main topics of discussion.
Basha said the conference was held after two important events for the region: NATO invitation to Albania and also Kosova’s independence, which he considered as the most important developments in the southeastern Europe that would positively affect the region as well.
The Albanian minister also said that the fight against terrorism, organized crime and corruption, illegal traffic are joint objectives for the region’s countries.
Basha also said that without NATO presence in the region it would be hard to think the situation at the moment would be the same.
An independent Kosova makes the Balkans freer, safer and more stable, adding Kosova would become an important factor for peace and stability.
Basha attacked some segments in Belgrade policy who do not respect the commitment not to get involved in violent acts and inflammatory rhetoric. He attacked what he called division plans based on ethnic communities like those for the division of Kosova.
He considered them as a very serious danger for peace and stability not only in Kosova but also the whole region.
As expected his words were immediately opposed by the Serbian counterpart claiming that Kosova is always apart of Serbia.(Tirana Times Staff)