Albania and Serbia in Kosovo ‘territorial integrity’ spatThu, Aug 20 2009
Albania's prime minister Sali Berisha, left, and his Kosovo counterpart Hashim Thaci inspect an honour guard during a welcoming ceremony in Tirana, June 19 2008.
Albania and Serbia are in a diplomatic row after Albanian prime minister was quoted as saying that "the national unity of Albanians should be a key idea in the policies of Albania and Kosovo".
Kosovo, which has a largely ethnic Albanian population, unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. Belgrade rejects Kosovo independence as illegitimate and is vigorously pursuing diplomatic and international court initiatives against Pristina’s UDI.
Serbian news agency Tanjug said on August 18 2009 that Serbia’s foreign ministry had sent a note of protest to the Albanian embassy in Belgrade.
"The ministry explained in a statement that it condemned in the strongest terms Berisha's provocative statement which crudely violated Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
The protest note said that statements such as Berisha's harmed good neighbourly relations and regional co-operation, the ministry said, according to Tanjug.
Kosovo media reported on August 19 that the Albanian foreign ministry had rejected Serbia’s allegations.
Albanian authorities said Berisha and the Albanian government were determined to move ahead in liberalisation of free movement of people and goods and in eliminating barriers.
The Albanian foreign ministry said that co-operation between Albania and Kosovo was based on mutual respect that came naturally and aimed at European integration.
"Albania supports and deeply believes that regional cooperation is a condition for European integration of the region," the foreign ministry in Tirana said.
It is not the only occasion in recent days in which Berisha has become embroiled in a controversy involving Kosovo.
Kosovo daily Express said on August 14 that Berisha had amended a media statement that initially had endorsed a political party in forthcoming local elections, changing the wording to say that Berisha was ready to co-operate with all political parties in Kosovo.
Albania and Serbia are in a diplomatic row after Albanian prime minister was quoted as saying that "the national unity of Albanians should be a key idea in the policies of Albania and Kosovo".
Kosovo, which has a largely ethnic Albanian population, unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. Belgrade rejects Kosovo independence as illegitimate and is vigorously pursuing diplomatic and international court initiatives against Pristina’s UDI.
Serbian news agency Tanjug said on August 18 2009 that Serbia’s foreign ministry had sent a note of protest to the Albanian embassy in Belgrade.
"The ministry explained in a statement that it condemned in the strongest terms Berisha's provocative statement which crudely violated Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
The protest note said that statements such as Berisha's harmed good neighbourly relations and regional co-operation, the ministry said, according to Tanjug.
Kosovo media reported on August 19 that the Albanian foreign ministry had rejected Serbia’s allegations.
Albanian authorities said Berisha and the Albanian government were determined to move ahead in liberalisation of free movement of people and goods and in eliminating barriers.
The Albanian foreign ministry said that co-operation between Albania and Kosovo was based on mutual respect that came naturally and aimed at European integration.
"Albania supports and deeply believes that regional cooperation is a condition for European integration of the region," the foreign ministry in Tirana said.
It is not the only occasion in recent days in which Berisha has become embroiled in a controversy involving Kosovo.
Kosovo daily Express said on August 14 that Berisha had amended a media statement that initially had endorsed a political party in forthcoming local elections, changing the wording to say that Berisha was ready to co-operate with all political parties in Kosovo.
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