Tirana Times interview with Ramiz Lladrovci, Kosovo’s Ambassador to Albania
What was your first impression when you were appointed ambassador to Albania? Did you really feel like going in another country?
– To tell the truth, the circumstances of my appointment were not circumstances of pleasure, but first of all a new responsibility. I came to this mission by succeeding or replacing a friend of mine and a co-fighter, a well-respected name in the fight for Kosovo’s freedom, lieutenant-general Sylejman Selimi, who was, at my opinion unfairly obliged to leave his duty as ambassador. Unfair and fictitious charges against him, made him depart from his mission of representing the Republic of Kosovo in Tirana. I think that Mr. Selimi the same as other co-fighters and friends of mine, are being unfairly charged although they are innocent.
But being asked to succeed him in this responsibility, I accepted. I have tried to fulfil this responsibility with honour and professionalism until now, continuing where ambassador Selimi left. My predecessor did an excellent job by heading the Kosovo diplomatic mission in Albania, a mission which is more specific and special compared to Kosovo’s other diplomatic missions across Europe and around the world.
Regarding your question if I feel like going to another country with this mission, I don’t really think so. On the contrary, in Tirana and all over Albania I feel, as being at home.
With missions and other responsibilities, I have spent here many years earlier, especially under the circumstances of Kosovo’s war for freedom and even before that, dealing with organizing issues.
Albania and the people here did a lot to support Kosovo’s war for freedom. Many of the people here and political and cultural figures as well personalities of different fields are friends of mine and even family friends. These relationships were shaped by sensitive circumstances and by the era of historical changes our people went through.
But, Kosovo as an independent state was not only a project of the politics and commitments taken by Albanians of Kosovo. It was first of all a joint project by Albanians on both sides of the borderline and a strategy which found the support of international partners, as the appropriate way to fulfil our historical aspirations.
Albania, in the eyes of Kosovo Albanians, can never be another country, and being part of one nation, it is natural to feel at home, which means not being guest but part of it. Considering the current historical reality, I came here as a representative of the state of Kosovo and this is the biggest honour I have ever had. That’s why, I am currently representing the state of Kosovo here and I feel proud about this.
Do you feel at home in Tirana the same as in Prishtina or Drenas?
-As I mentioned above, yes. This is my home and the home of all Kosovo Albanians. It was a shelter and a home for us even in the war times, not only for me and my co-fighters, with whom we built the biggest pan-Albanians 20th century project, the Kosovo Liberation Army, but even for every Albanian who during the war took shelter and found the warm brotherly welcome across Albania. It is not only the language, the common thinking, the same path we went through, there’s more than this. I grew up in a family to whom Albania was a dream and we were punished for loving Albania. The same as we were punished for loving the West and its values, freedom, dignity as a people and as a nation. In Tirana I felt at home even when I wasn’t in this duty and will always feel at home despite the duty I could have or as an ordinary citizen.
In Tirana I feel well in my mission also thanks to the close and open cooperation with everybody starting with President Nishani, Prime Minister Rama, Parliament Speaker Meta, Foreign Minister Bushati and also opposition leaders and representatives.
It is also worth noting, even the good cooperation bridged during the whole mandate with the diplomatic corps especially the U.S. Embassy and diplomatic representatives of EU countries accredited in Tirana.
What do you think about the current political relations between Albania and Kosovo? How helpful have the joint meetings between the two governments been to create concrete cooperation spaces between the parties?
– It is two years now since the first meeting between the Albanian and Kosovo governments. The Prizren meeting on January 11, 2014 opened a new dynamic chapter in the Kosovo-Albania relations and the two prime ministers. Mr Edi Rama and Mr HashimThaà§i, fairly described it as “a meeting marking a new chapter and sending the European message to everybody, the message of a region with open borders and no barriers of the past.” This meeting, also took place for the first time in the history of two separate states. As already known, on this date, was signed “the declaration for cooperation and strategic partnership between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Albania. This agreement included the fields of transport and infrastructure as well as commercial cooperation. It was also agreed to set up a joint support fund on the Presheva Valley.
In the framework of the strategic partnership between the government of the Republic of Albania and the government of the Republic of Kosovo, established in Prizren on March 23, 2015, a second joint meeting was held in Tirana on March 23, 2015 between the two governments, co-chaired by Albanian Prime Minister Mr Edi Rama and Kosovo Prime Minister Mr Isa Mustafa. And with no modesty I can say that the Kosovo Embassy in Tirana and a part of its staff were very committed in preparing and offering the recommendations for the content and the agenda of this meeting. With many recommendations to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs working group and the Prime Minister’s office with whom we had an excellent collaboration, we contributed to extending the topics of the meetings of both governments.
Security, economy, education, agriculture and removing trade barriers between the two countries were some of the fields where the signing of 12 agreements, memoranda and protocols between Kosovo and Albania focused on. The “fruit” of the second meeting between the two governments included five agreements, four memoranda, two protocols and a joint statement.
As a result, a series of agreements have been signed, many others are on their way and we have launched activities with Albanian authorities to identify the fields and institutions for the arrangement of new agreements between the two governments in the next meeting.
Of course, the excellent political cooperation with Kosovo, is giving a push also to the economic cooperation which is now becoming multilateral. For Kosovo, Albania is the most natural strategic, diplomatic, political, economic, trade, education and cultural partner, as both our countries have a common history, geography, culture and vision in the context of the European integration. In this context, the vision of the two governments is to establish a common market which will offer great opportunities for investments, a better life quality for all citizens on both sides of that border which is more than a simply border on paper.
Special progress was also marked in the economic and trade cooperation between our two countries, projects of joint economic and social interest were launched, targeting progress on the same economic development path. The trade exchanges between Albania and Kosovo are on the rise, but yet not at their potential.
Another big project between our two countries is expected to be concluded at the end of June. It’s about the 400 kV interconnection project which has been dubbed “The Energy Highway.” Kosovo has now completed its part while Albania is expected to complete it by early next June.
This will be a very important step for the economic independence of Kosovo and Albania because it will open up new paths with vital cooperation between our two economies.
I think the relationship has grown step by step, gradually overcoming the difficulties and creating space and finding opportunities to strengthen the relations. In fact, in Kosovo, either the majority or the opposition, consider the political relations with Albania from a realistic point of view, giving them first priority. We aspire that together, as two countries now, we go through the same path to the European Union and democratic processes. For this, although we belong to one nation, we should know each other better, and one of the ways is through the joint meetings of our governments.
When will the next joint government meeting be held and which its agenda will be, as far as you can share with our readers?
-The next meeting will be held in the Kosovo capital, Prishtina, on June 3, at the Kosovo National Library. In the meantime, both respective embassies and government working groups are working with a new dynamic to finalize the agenda of this next meeting.
Maybe it will be the second or third week of May until all agreements that can be signed between the governments, are finalized. In order to avoid delays, we will sit down and prepare the documents of the meeting at the beginning of next week. The main topic of the third meeting between the governments will be the deepening of the strategic partnership between Albania and Kosovo, which in the course of the past couple of years has seen vital progress even in the field of foreign policy. I would like to stress that this form of cooperation has also been supported by Western countries and the United States and this is not a display of nationalism, but a new way of thinking which is deeply European.
How do you assess the role of Tirana’s diplomacy in the cause of Kosovo’s recognition by countries and international organizations around the world?
-Albania is our main partner and it has made available all its diplomatic capacities and state mechanisms in the process of Kosovo’s recognition and consolidation and in the process of membership to regional and international organizations. In this context, Kosovo and its people are grateful to the commitment of the Albanian state, to all Albanian institutions for their proactive contribution to accelerating the process of Kosovo’s international recognitions, in the meetings, forums and regional and international organizations, also supporting Kosovo’s full integration in the international system. Albania has given full support to Kosovo on the liberalization of visas for Kosovo citizens in the Schengen Area. The support to Kosovo’s request for the UNESCO membership by the Executive Council was an indicator of concrete commitment by our strategic partners to make Kosovo part of UNESCO, an important UN agency dealing and protecting special values in education, science and international cultural heritage.
Albania proposed the resolution in support of the candidacy of the Republic of Kosovo to UNESCO, based on its vision and conviction that the newest European state has a European future and is committed to the continuous and sustainable strengthening of peace.
Albania has been highly committed to Kosovo’s recognition in different countries and institutions. We have felt this and seen it in practice. Both the previous and current Albanian government, in their foreign policy, made Kosovo’s international recognition a priority. However, although our recognition went through the big doors of international politics, I would say that Albania, which has strong international support, could have done more especially near the institutions and organizations where Albania has adhered much earlier.
What about the economic relations and trade exchanges between the two countries? Statistics are tough and show that former Yugoslav countries, but not Albania remain Kosovo’s main trading partners. How do you explain this?
-Kosovo and Albania trade exchanges are worth nearly €200 million a year and with a rising trend. This is the latest figure for 2015. This year has even marked higher achievement. The first months of this year were more promising and there was a 6 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Last year registered a huge increase in imports and exports of agriculture products. On the other hand, I would like to stress that the import-export ratio between Kosovo and Albania, is at ratio of 1-4 for both countries, in Kosovo there is much more presence and operation by Albanian companies compared to Kosovo companies in Albania. This shows that Kosovo has been very open and has created if we can express it this way more space for Albania-based companies. We believe this ratio will change in the future even regarding Albanian businesses from Kosovo which used to face lots of bureaucratic barriers.
As far as relations with regional countries are concerned, there is a fact which shouldn’t be ignored. Until a few years ago, we didn’t have the Nation Highway, we didn’t have the facilities that were established in the meantime, so enterprises and businessmen made use of their old connections from the former Yugoslavia zone. Business connections are not established so easily. But as I stressed above, the trends with Albania are very positive and we believe that with the increased production in Kosovo and Albania we will be more complementary and independent the same as in the energy sector. That’s why when both countries increase their production capacities, the intensity of bilateral trade exchanges will be higher.
I think that a common Albanian-speaking market in the region should not exclude others, who together live in this region, which continue to be troubled. I think exclusion has never been part of our thinking as a nation, on the contrary, the philosophy was to bring the others closer.
I feel very happy when I find in Drenas, the Saranda citrus or Korà§a lowlands products, which are a treasury for all of us.
Look at what’s happening, whether we like it or not, a common Albanian-speaking market has been established in the field of tourism. Now, Albanians from all territories meet from Velipoja to Saranda. There is no limitation and no value is lost. I think that the highest percentage of tourism in Albania has been covered by Albanian-speakers who are also bringing their neighbours. With this, I mean the creation of this market in all fields does not prevent but on the contrary brings us closer.
What mechanisms should the two countries establish and strengthen so that economic relations improve and a unified Albania-speaking market is created in the region?
-Economic development remains the focus of attention for the two governments because it still remains unexploited and far from the targets we have set. That’s why we can come closer to these targets with the agreement signed a few days ago on the Promotion and Protection of Investments, signed by Kosovo Trade and Industry Minister, Mrs Hikmete Bajrami and Albanian Economy Minister, Mrs Milva Ekonomi.
Very important agreements promoting growth have been signed, especially in economic cooperation or as we call it, various exchanges in the trade and economic field. These are evident and of course we expect more to be done to reduce to a minimum these barriers preventing the normal development of Albania-Kosovo relations.
What about the education and cultural aspects, for example have the gaps between the two countries narrowed such as the recognition of diplomas?
-As far as culture and education are concerned there has been an accelerated dynamic in contacts and the signing of agreement. On March 23, 2015, when the joint government meeting was held in Tirana, the Albanian Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Lindita Nikolla, and Kosovo’s Education, Science and Technology Minister Arsim Bajrami, signed three important cooperation agreements in the field of education and science between Kosovo and Albania.
– The cooperation agreement in the field of higher education and scientific research;
-The agreement on the joint teaching of Albanian language and culture in the diaspora (in cooperation with Kosovo Diaspora Minister Mr Valon Murati);
-The agreement for institutional coordination for the advancement and professional development of teachers in the pre-university education system;
Both Albania and Kosovo are in the process of drafting the higher education law and that’s why the joint teams on the draft law will have the opportunity to share their vision and new approaches whose perspective is quality in higher education and scientific research.
Cooperation is continuing with joint programs such as Erasmus and in the meantime several new projects have been implemented involving the Albanian and Kosovo universities together with British, German, French and Austrian universities.
It should be also stressed that the implementation of the agreement on the Unification of Pre-university System Curricula between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Kosovo signed in June 2014 is being shaped.
That is why in the framework of the continuation of cooperation in the pre-university system, in order to have policies in line with common European principles, the main targets will be determined in the system of continuing training and qualification of teachers.
We do pretty well even in the field of culture. In the past few years there has been special progress. The 2015 balance sheet was great and tough. The Prishtina National Theatre, the Gjirokastra Festival, Dokufest, Rona Nishliu’s concert in Tirana , the Tirana Ballet Troupe in Prishtina, the rock concert by the “Gjurmet” band, the exhibition by the Tirana Art gallery in Prishtina, the festivals which started in Kosovo and continued in Albania and the movies as well.
Kosovo and Albania are marking their third year of cooperation with the Joint Cultural Calendar which was drafted based on the strategic partnership between the Albanian and Kosovo Councils of Ministers. Our two countries will be staging a joint calendar of events even for 2016. This protocol confirms the continuation of cooperation between our two countries with the target of advancing and promoting national culture within the Albanian space but even beyond, paving the way for more cultural events.
For us, Albania’s culture and education, the books, songs and science, especially by great figures such as Eqrem à‡abej, Aleks Buda, Androkli Kostallari, Ismail Kadare, Drità«ro Agolli etc. have surely been windows to get to know our nation better. Did you know that when à‡abej used to come to hold lectures at the University of Prishtina, the people be they intellectuals or not, walked for hours and days to listen to his speech or simply see him. This continues to this day: the recognition and opening up did not have an influence to remove the myth of science, art and culture in Albania, on the other hand it deepened it.
How do you find the role of civil society in the relationship between the two countries and in the joint projects? Is the civil society a stakeholder that is contributing to the strengthening of the relations?
-If we look at the government cooperation, which is very encouraging, I think that the NGOs would even have go beyond the government dynamics, because they are more flexible and less bureaucratic in their form. Of course the civil society’s role between the two countries and in the joint projects is irreplaceable but I have the impression that it is not at the right level. In this context, the NGOs and the government mechanisms would have to be involved in more joint projects. The media as well. If you go to the Western world, you can see English and French newspapers in Vienna, Berlin and vice-verse, and not to mention the German-speaking media area in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. I think electronic media here are one step forward which have penetrated better and maybe the development of the IT has made this possible.
But in Prishtina, we don’t have newspapers from Albania, and there are no Kosovo newspapers in Tirana, even in small numbers. Even universities should apply the system of academic exchanges so that professors can travel from Vlora to Mitrovica and the other way round for one semester. This should also apply with students, who should study in Kosovo and Kosovo students in Tirana, through exchange programs. This creates chances for the extension and recognition of our opportunities in all fields.
Lastly, how was Kosovo’s UEFA membership and the green light on liberalization of visas for Kosovo citizens experienced?
-Kosovo experienced two great events these days: its UEFA membership and the positive assessment by the European Commission on fulfilling the criteria for the visa liberalisation. These two events were experienced the same way both in Kosovo and Albania. These achievements will bring a new relationship between doubt and belief, i.e. between doubt if we can one day be part of the big European democratic processes and the belief that we are now on the right track. Albania has also to be praised on this, all its structures, both the government and the opposition, as also happened in Kosovo.
I would say that even Albania and its citizens experience the same way this new condition achieved with huge sacrifices and by the invaluable contribution of the Western countries, which we will never find the right words to thank.
