Protest in Tirana over Serbian minister's visit

Source: AP, Tanjug

TIRANA -- Scores of Albanian nationalist staged a protest in Tirana over the first visit in eight years to their country by a Serbian foreign minister.

The protest in Tirana (Beta/AP)

The Associated Press reported that supporters of the Red and Black Alliance party shouted slogans and held banners reading “Kosovo is Albania” at Tirana's airport Monday as Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić arrived.
The nationalist party is unhappy with the Albanian government's ties to Serbia, the agency reported.

Mrkić is on a two-day visit to Albania, where he will confer with Albanian officials on the relations between the two countries and other issues. On Tuesday, Mrkić met with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Foreign Minister Edmond Panariti.

Mrkić told Sunday's edition of Belgrade-based daily Politika that this is the first visit by a Serbian foreign minister to this country after many years, and voiced expectation that his visit will create a foundation for a better cooperation.