Tirana hails Kosovo’s democratically-held elections

TIRANA, Nov 17 – Albania hailed peacefully-held elections in neighboring Kosovo as a sign that democracy was functioning well in the newly-independent country.
The Foreign Ministry made a statement welcoming the “successful conclusion” of Nov. 15 elections in Kosovo.
“They are historic elections, which indicate that the processes unveiled in Kosovo are irreversible and that democracy there is functional,” said the statement.
Tirana congratulated Kosovo citizens, the political factor and local institutions for the maturity and seriousness shown in the successful organization and management of these elections, the peaceful climate in which they were conducted, the increased voters’ participation, including the Serb minority.
Tirana expressed, “Ʃts conviction that independent Kosovo has all the necessary capacities to meet new challenges in its road of consolidating the state and democratic institutions for the accomplishment of European and Euro-Atlantic aspiration.”
President Bamir Topi also hailed his Kosovar counterpart Fatmir Mediu for the successful holding of the elections there.
“Through these elections Kosovo proved its importance as a factor of stability and security in the region and guaranteed international partners it is determined in its Euro-Atlantic integration,” wrote Topi in a message sent to Sejdiu.