Berisha appeals to Kosovar Albanians for calm

TIRANA, Feb. 13 – Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said Tuesday in a news conference that violence would be the main damaging factor of Kosova’s process toward its independence. The Albanian government expressed its full support to the Kosovar negotiating team saying its participation at the upcoming Vienna meeting was necessary. “On behalf of the government I appeal to the Kosovar citizens to avoid any act of violence,” he said. “Kosova is going ahead in a very sure and irretrievable way toward independence.” Berisha said that any Albanian citizen is obliged to contribute to prevent violence, adding that what is important is the predominance of dialogue on the agreement and the whole environment in Kosova. “Kosova has made extraordinary sacrifices for such a day. This day finds Kosova nearer than ever to the realization, which is absolutely unavoidable, of the big project of independence,” he said.
Albania has been the strongest supporter of independence for Kosova, where ethnic Albanians make up 90 percent of its population. Albania has said Serbia’s constitutional claim over Kosova is unacceptable. It has also made clear that it has no territorial aims to join with Kosova and that the international community, including the KFOR forces, should continue to stay there.