The joint meeting of the two governments, Albania-Kosova, planned to take place in Gjakova on Wednesday (June 14) has been cancelled. The news was announced by Prime Minister Edi Rama in a media conference, where he stated that due to the deterioration of Kosova’s relations with the Euro-Atlantic community, the meeting cannot take place according to the established format.

The Prime Minister emphasized that, after consultations with the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, he asked the Prime Minister of Kosova, Albin Kurti, to hold a meeting in Gjakova the next day in a narrower format, but emphasized that this request was rejected by Kurti.

“I have informed Prime Minister Kurti that under the conditions of the deterioration of Kosova’s relations with the entire Euro-Atlantic community, this meeting cannot be held in the anticipated format. After speaking with the head of European diplomacy, Borrell, I asked Albin to meet tomorrow in Gjakova in a closer format, namely with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and those of Defense, to discuss this situation that dramatically divides Kosova with the Euro-Atlantic community. We did not have an agreement with Kurti. He requested that the meeting be held and that we discuss this there, but this is not possible,” said Rama.

While justifying the decision taken, Rama said that Albania does not operate in isolation, as he emphasized that “there is no chance” of moving from the axis of the Euro-Atlantic community.

Once again, Rama said that he does not agree with Kurti’s decisions regarding the management of the situation after the tensions in the north of Kosova, adding that Albania supports the proposals of the Western allies.

“We have a problem because Albania is not a UFO (Alien Country), it does not operate in isolation. Albania’s relationship with Kosova is a fraternal relationship, but Albania is a state, an inseparable part of the Euro-Atlantic community, it is a member of NATO and there is no chance that Albania will move from the axis of the Euro-Atlantic community for that, moreover I have said that we think 100% as our allies think in this case. When some of the partners told Albin not to hold the elections in the north, I was 100% with Albin that the elections should be held because the boycott of the Serbs could not acquire the status of a fatal instrument for the Republic of Kosova. But today, not only do we not share the opinion on the way it is being acted, but we are 100% against the way it is being acted,” said the Prime Minister Rama.

This would be the ninth meeting held between the two governments, while the cancellation comes after the events in the north of Kosova.

/a.p./