Meta meets with Presevo Valley students, Kosovo Serb community leader

TIRANA, March 28 – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ilir Meta met last weekend with a group of students from Presevo Valley who study at Universities in Albania.
Meta visited Presevo Valley earlier this month following a visit to Belgrade, Serbia.
Meta said he was meeting with the future of this Valley, with more learned citizens, who are going to contribute to its comprehensive development.
Meta said Albania was totally committed to contribute in several aspects, one of which is the graduation of hundreds of boys and girls from Presevo Valley at Albanian universities.
Meta said that thanks to its policy of good neighborliness and regional cooperation, Albania is playing an appraised constructive role for a Balkans integrated to the European family.
He said that during his visit to Belgrade Serb senior officials had expressed their understanding for the concerns of the inhabitants in the Presevo Valley and the commitment to work in real terms for the improvement of their life and rights and through increasing investments there.
Meta added that the Albanian government would keep on its own commitment and cooperation with the Serb government in order to achieve a genuine progress with regard to the rights of Albanians in Presevo Valley and their proper integration into the political, economic and social life and institutions of Serbia.
Meta also met last weekend with Kosovo Minister for Returns and Communities Sasha Rasic.
During the meeting they focused on the increased cooperation between the two countries and the progressive developments in Kosovo, paying special attention to the further integration of communities, including the Serb community in the central and local Kosovo institutions.
Meta briefed Rasic on his visit a few days ago in Serbia, including the visit in Presevo Valley and the constructive meetings with the highest Serb authorities, which testify to the new stage in the relations between Albania and Serbia, that are very important for stability in the region, for an enhanced cooperation at all areas of mutual interest, serving both countries and a rapid European integration.
With regard to the commitment of the Albanian Government to contribute with funding to the construction of social-cultural facilities in the commune with a Serbian majority of Gra袮ica, Meta informed Minister Rasic that the amount of 400,000 Euro would be used in cooperation with the local authorities and the Kosovo government.