TIRANA, Feb. 26 – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama visited Moscow on Wednesday under Albania’s chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, where he said Russia can use its influence to bring the world closer to peace.
Rama visited Moscow on an official visit as the OSCE chairman-in-office. The focus of the talks was the crisis in Ukraine, but the parties also discussed bilateral relations at grassroots levels.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whom Rama met, said progress in bilateral relations had been hampered by Albania’s stance in line with those of the European Union, which has imposed sanctions on Moscow.
Rama responded that Albania is a proud NATO member and a proud ally of the US and the EU and that it stands fully in line with its great friends, also in the case of sanctions.
Rama specified that this is a choice Albania has made by will and not force.
“I don’t think Russia is an enemy to anyone with whom we are sided. That is why we have so many things we can see without pretending to change anyone’s foundations,” Rama underlined.
During the press conference with Lavrov, Rama also called for Kosovo independence, saying that he sees no reason why others have the right to partition and have their own state and that Kosovo should not have that right.
Rama’s comment was a reaction to Russia’s stance of not recognizing Kosovo as an independent state.
Lavrov said his country promotes dialogue between the parties and will support an agreement acceptable to both countries, while blaming Kosovo for failing to respect a number of agreements reached, such as establishing an association of Serb municipalities.
For his part, Rama insisted that it is in everyone’s interest, including that of Serbia, to recognize Kosovo as an independent state.
Concerning the crisis in Ukraine, Rama called it the most pressing issue and solving it a top priority of Albania’s OSCE leadership.
“We will support all efforts to move towards a peaceful solution. We’ve seen some progress, not everything is gloomy there are some good things. They may seem small, of course, but they are huge for the lives of so many people, thousands of civilians, that they have to face the lifestyle they go from side to side in the disengagement zone. Let me say very directly and reiterate that we fully support the Moscow Agreements and believe that their implementation, whether or not it is essential to move forward,” Rama said.
