Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, has criticized Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić for pledging during an election campaign to “raise the Serbian flag again in Kosovo.”

Hoxha described the remarks as provocative and threatening, warning that inflammatory rhetoric could encourage dangerous actions. He cited the 2023 Banjska attack as a reminder of the risks when political statements fuel action, adding that full accountability for the incident remains unresolved.

Hoxha said lasting regional cooperation requires good-neighborly relations, dialogue and genuine efforts to heal past wounds. He warned that threats and the denial of neighboring countries’ legitimacy undermine trust and reconciliation. He also urged the Western Balkans not to repeat the mistakes of the past, stressing that peace requires sustained commitment, mutual respect and cooperation.

“ The Republic of Kosovo is an irreversible reality. It is a sovereign and democratic state, an equal part of our region, and a country steadily consolidating its place in the European and international community,” Hoxha said. He added that Kosovo belongs to all its citizens, regardless of ethnicity, and should pursue a future built on peace, security, inclusion and European integration.