Serbia visit breaks ice, highlights tensions

Albania’s prime minister has made the first official visit to Serbia in 68 years to promote cooperation demanded by a joint EU path, but a public spat over Kosovo’s independence placed the spotlight on long-lasting tensions.
By ANDI BALLA
TIRANA, Nov. 12 – As Albania’s prime minister, Edi Rama, pronounced the words “Kosovo” and “independence” in a joint Belgrade press conference with his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic, the face expressions and gestures of the host spoke to the quickly souring mood in the room.
Vucic grinned unhappily, took off his translation headphones for a few seconds, as to protest to what he just had heard, then went on to listen again. A few moments later, he jumped to the podium, calling Rama’s remarks an unacceptable “provocation in the middle of Belgrade.”
The very public spat between the two prime ministers over Kosovo quickly put the spotlight on long-lasting tensions during the Nov. 10 first official visit by an Albanian prime minister to Serbia in 68 years, aimed at breaking the ice in bilateral relations as part of a joint European integration path.
However, the mere fact that Rama’s two-day visit to Serbia took place at all was seen as a step in the right direction for Albania and Serbia. Both countries aspire to join the European Union over the next decade, and EU leaders have made it clear they want the two countries to have warmer relations and saw the meeting as an important first step to that end.
But the visit was twice delayed — first by snap elections in Serbia and then by tensions following a football match between the two countries that had to be abandoned when violence broke out in a Belgrade stadium on Oct. 14. A pitch brawl and already stewing Serbian hooligan violence erupted when an Albanian nationalist message was flown over the stadium by a drone. Political leaders proceeded to exchange harsh words blaming the other side, and relations reached a new low point that placed Rama’s scheduled visit in jeopardy.
Kosovo spat highlights tensions
But, on Nov. 10 in Belgrade, all of that took a back seat to the issue of Kosovo’s independence, after Rama called publicly on Serbia to recognize the independence of its former province.
“On Kosovo, we share two completely different views, but the reality is one and invariable. An independent Kosovo has been recognized so far by 108 different countries across the world and supported by the International Court of Justice. It is an undeniable and inalienable regional and European reality. It must be respected,” Rama said.
He added that the recognition of Kosovo by the European countries which have not yet recognized it is first and foremost an issue of European security.
“Let us be honest to the end — Kosovo’s independence has grown the Balkans into a more stable region; it has attached more clarity to the European perspective of the region and has turned relations between Albanians in general and Serbs in particular into a strategic cooperation. Any new perception of Serbia towards this reality is more than welcome from us,” Rama said at the joint conference with his Serbian counterpart.
An unhappy Vucic said he felt Rama had broken protocol, because he believed they had agreed not to speak about Kosovo.
“Kosovo Metohija has always been and is a part of Serbia and has nothing to do with Albania,” he said, adding he would “not allow anyone to humiliate Serbia in Belgrade.”
Kosovo, where most inhabitants are ethnic Albanians, declared independence from Serbia in 2008. It had gained de-facto independence after the 1999 NATO intervention to stop ethnic cleansing by the Serbian regime of Slobodan Milosevic.
Vucic was Serbia’s information minister and a member of the Milosevic ally Radical Party at the time, but he has since split to create another political groups and has softened his stance, aiming to move Serbia toward EU membership.
Most Serbs realize that they have lost Kosovo, but in addition to his own views, Vucic faces internal pressure from Serb nationalists over Kosovo, experts say.
Visit seen as a turning point for better relations
Despite the harsh comments, the two prime ministers have said they look forward and to promote relations between the two countries.
“Today was a chance for us to turn a new page. We regret that Prime Minister Rama’s provocation has led to a missed opportunity, but we would still like to work together for the future of our region,” Vucic wrote on Twitter latter in the day.
As part of the visit, the two countries signed three agreements, including one on youth cooperation, which will offer the ability of the countries students to, among other things, study in each-others’ universities and gain diplomas that are recognized by both countries.
Albanian officials said the agreement was great because it provided specific benefits and their Serbian counterparts said it created a spirit of tolerance and understanding among young people of the two countries.
“But, in fact, despite that we had a difficult meeting, despite that we had a lively press conference let’s say, we continued to work and we agreed, for example, and finalized the agreement for youth cooperation, which was not completed. So, this is an expression of a desire and goodwill from both sides,” Rama said.
The agreement particularly affects students from the Presevo Valley, an area in southern Serbia inhabited by ethnic Albanians. Students from there often attend universities in Albania, the diplomas from which will now be recognized in Serbia.
Rama received warm welcome in Presevo on the second day of the Serbia visit, where he spoke to a large crowd of locals gathered in an auditorium. He called the area a bridge of cooperation with Serbia.
International community happy with visit
European Union, United States and Kosovo officials have welcomed Rama’s visit to Serbia, calling it a turning point.
“The EU commends both leaders on their political courage in organizing such a delicate and challenging visit, sees the event as the beginning of a new phase in the relations between the two countries and trusts that both leaders will continue to work towards new positive steps in the future,” said Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for EU High Representative Federica Mogherini.
The U.S. State Department issued a similar statement, noting it had been nearly 70 years since the last visit of its type.
“We welcome the mutual commitment these leaders have shown in opening a new chapter of friendship and cooperation between their two countries,” said a statement by Jen Psaki, the U.S. State Department spokesperson.
The reaction to Rama’s visit has also largely been very positive in Kosovo, with officials there welcoming the visit and his remarks as historic.
Pragmatic approach sought
At the meeting, the Serbian prime minister had expressed hope that pragmatic relations between the two countries would focus on progress of not only mutual political and economic relations, but also on the progress of relations in the entire region, according to a Serbian government statement.
Rama said the two countries have common enemies like poverty, unemployment, lack of prospects for young people, public debt and deficits that are inherited from the past.
For Albania’s prime minister, the visit was not an easy one, but he said it was necessary, adding he hoped to welcome his Serbian counterpart in Tirana next year.
“It was difficult, but I think it was very healthy, because it was true, it was straightforward and it was a very good basis on which we can work in the future, to continue towards the future,” Rama said.
Economic cooperation seen as good starting point
While in Belgrade, the Albanian prime minister also attended a business forum on cooperation between Albania and Serbia. He said existing cooperation can and should be developed starting with economy and the creation of a regional common market should be the common goal.
“We should not think about this as if it was something too big. Because many studies show clearly that things that to us, who look at them from far, seem simple, have been more difficult for the Benelux countries,” Rama told the forum. “However, these countries were wise to not exaggerate obstacles, to not get stalled before these obstacles and had the will, the goodwill, to move in parallel and to build, while talking about things they didn’t agree on.”