TIRANA, Aug. 1, 2022 – Albania’s leadership has expressed support and praised Kosovo for the way it handled Sunday’s escalation by Serbia, which led to roadblocks and border checkpoints being closed in northern Kosovo after Prishtina tried to implement reciprocity measures on travel between the two countries.
Albanian President Bajram Begaj, who called his Kosovo counterpart to express support, praised “the authorities of Kosovo for the prudence shown, which in close cooperation and coordination with international partners avoided a serious provocation for the stability of Kosovo, especially in this situation charged with great and increased threats and dangers for peace and security for the region after the Russian aggression in Ukraine.”
Prime Minister Edi Rama, who had been criticized by the opposition for being too slow to react to the situation, said in a joint press conference with his Spanish counterpart that the events had been “a completely unreasonable escalation as the government of Kosovo has not only the right but also the duty, to implement the agreements, exercising territorial sovereignty, which originate from independence in administration of the state.”
Rama added that he “congratulated the authorities in Kosovo for their sense of self-restraint and for listening to the allies who suggested a 30-day postponement, not to change the agreement, but to give time, time to clarify, if there is a need to clarify anything, so that when the agreement enters into force, there will be no problems of this nature.”
Albania’s opposition has joined in its support for Kosovo but has also harshly criticized Rama for being too slow in reacting and for putting too much effort in his relationship with Serb President Aleksandar Vucic, who is seen to be behind the escalation through the Serb government’s control of local Serb groups in northern Kosovo.
The escalation of the situation, in which Kosovo police said they were fired at by local Serbs who also blocked two border points, came to an end after Kosovar authorities agreed to delay implementation of two regulations regarding automobile license plates and travel papers for visitors from Serbia after consultations with U.S. and European Union representatives.
Local Serbs in northern Kosovo agreed to remove all the barricades that were put on the roads leading to two border crossing points with Serbia.
Serbia’s Vucic said Belgrade would not stand by if local Serbs are attacked.
NATO issued a stern warning that it would intervene should Kosovo come under attack from Serbia.
