TIRANA, April 9 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said in a television interview this week that Albania and Kosovo would unite in the future, and that he preferred that it be done in the context of the European Union without any border changes.
“The unification of the Albanians of Albania and Kosovo … is inevitable and unquestionable,” Rama said in an interview late on Monday with a local Kosovo broadcaster. “The question is how it will happen. Will it happen in the context of the EU as a natural process and understood by all, or will it happen as a reaction to EU blindness or laziness.”
Albania’s official stance is that it supports a strong and independent Kosovo. It says it sees the Albanian peoples united under the EU umbrella.
However, Monday’s remark was described by an EU spokeswoman as “not acceptable”.
Maja Kocjiancic, the EU spokeswoman, said Albania must honor its commitments in full respect of EU principles and standards”.
“The commitments also include regional co-operation, reconciliation, and good neighborly relations. Any provocative statements in this context are not acceptable.” she said.
Kosovo’s foreign minister and deputy prime minister, Hashim Thaçi, who took part in the interview, said the comment was taken out context.
He said Rama was referring to a “reality that can come true in the future and could be the result of Kosovo’s isolation from the EU”.
However, Serbia was quick to react through Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.
“I promise to Prime Minister Edi Rama that Kosovo and Albania will never unite in the classic way. I appeal to the Albanian leaders to stop provoking the stability in the region,” Serbian PM said on Twitter.
The Serbian Foreign Ministry also gave an official note of protest to the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade.
The Serbian Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, said that the views of the Albanian prime minister are unacceptable for Serbia.
Prime Minister Rama was the first Albanian government head to visit Serbia after a 68-year freeze in relations, primarily because of Kosovo.
