Tirana, Belgrade hold diplomatic consultation

TIRANA, June 24 – Albanian Deputy Foreign Minister Edith Harxhi held in Tirana a meeting with her Serbian counterpart Zdravko Ponosh, in what is the first diplomatic consultation of its kind between the two countries.
Harxhi and Ponosh shared the view that relations between Albania and Serbia are of special significance for both countries and that their further development, free from prejudices, would render its contribution to security, stability and welfare of the region.
Notwithstanding differences concerning the issue of Kosovo, the two countries agreed to move ahead in their relations at all areas of mutual benefit.
Political relations together with political dialogue were considered as very important elements in paving the way to the intensification and promotion of cooperation at all fields of mutual advantage.
While considering trade and economic cooperation as an essential element in the relations between the two countries, both sides agreed to step up respective efforts in fostering the interest by public and private operators for more investments and trade exchanges.
Other areas of interest for cooperation were energy, transportation, tourism, agro-business, education, science, culture and health.
The delegations also discussed Serbia’s majority Albanian populated area of Preshevo Valley.
The two countries are under a process of drafting a series of agreements and protocols of cooperation; most of them are expected to be signed soon, including a agreements on repatriation, transportation and diploma recognition.
The cooperation is seen as part of European integration for both countries. Both sides agreed that the cooperation and consolidation of bilateral relations will benefit the promotion of regional and European integration processes and regional stability.