Departing PM: Citizenship for all ethnic Albanians, excluding Kosovo

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania will offer citizenship to all persons of Albanian origin living in other countries, with the exception of citizens of Kosovo, where ethnic Albanians make up more than 90 percent of the population. The government said that starting August 1 all Albanians who have migrated in other countries during or after the fall of the communist regime two decades ago and those who can prove their Albanian origin may apply for the citizenship.
It said that proper authorities had already worked out the procedures on the new process.
The moved does not include ethnic Albanians living in neighboring Kosovo because that country is negotiating with the European Union on the visa liberalization, according to the decision passed Wednesday.
Fearing international reactions, Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who leaves office in September, said that “Albania has no territorial claims to any other country.”
Berisha’s nationalistic rhetoric during the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of independence last year sparked loud cries from the international community and the neighbors, fearing that could potentially destabilize the Balkans.
Berisha’s words followed those from the Red-and-Black Alliance Party, crated last year, who called for a referendum on uniting Albania with neighboring Kosovo, whose population is mostly ethnic Albanian.
Berisha recently angered neighboring Greece with talk of Albanian lands including parts of Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro. Tirana later said his comments, made ahead of Albania’s 100th anniversary celebrations, had a purely historical context.
But some visits from officials in the neighbouring countries were cancelled after his words.
“This act should not be considered otherwise but in the best interests of the Albanians, peace and stability,” Berisha said Wednesday at the cabinet meeting. “During the 20 years we have opposed any effort for border changes and in this area borders cannot change but judging that would be the vital interest for Albanians, we believe that the project of their unification in the European Union will give the best answer to the national cause.”