The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, is continuing his tour in the region and is currently in Kosovo, where he held a joint press conference with his counterpart, Donika Gërvalla.

In his speech, when asked about the risk of further attacks in the north of Kosovo, Hasani emphasized Albania’s unconditional support. Additionally, he conveyed a message to Serbia, stating that it is no longer the time to bring the neighbor’s army to the border.

“Kosovo has an eternal and indisputable ally, which is Albania; in any case, Albania will stand beside Pristina and all the Albanians of Kosovo. We closely monitor the developments at the border of Kosovo. We appeal to all actors and factors in the 21st century: refrain from deploying armies to the border. No one should continue this game, which is ridiculous, considering that we all acknowledge that the greatest guarantee for the integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Kosovo is NATO, of which Albania is also a part,” emphasized Hasani.

In regard to the attack in Banjska, Hasani stated the need for bringing the perpetrators and organizers to justice and holding them accountable. He further called on international partners to actively promote the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

“The purpose of this tour is to exchange ideas on the collective efforts required for the betterment of the region. The region is currently facing a precarious moment, with security and stability under greater threat than ever before. The attack in the north of Kosovo was a criminal act and a serious threat to the security and stability of our region. The individuals responsible for this act must be held accountable and brought to justice, as it is necessary to prevent further escalations. All agreements and commitments must be promptly implemented. We call on our partners to actively support and advance the dialogue,” declared Hasani.

The Albanian chief diplomat also informed that he discussed with Gërvalla the advancement of the common agenda of the two countries. Hasani stated that Kosovo’s membership in NATO is the main priority of the Albanian presidency of the Adriatic Charter.

“We also discussed how we will advance our common agenda. Kosovo’s NATO membership remains a top priority for the Albanian presidency of the Adriatic Charter throughout 2024. Regarding EU integration, this is a key focus that Albania emphasizes in meetings with our partners. The full integration of the region into the EU is seen as the only way to establish lasting peace in the area,” highlighted Hasani.

“We are ready to help and support Kosovo in the integration process by sharing our experience. We have agreed on the importance of increasing joint diplomatic representation and further promoting and intensifying work for the Albanian diaspora around the world. In line with these ideas discussed, as part of the structuring of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, we will soon establish a special directorate dedicated to coordinating work with the Albanian factor in the region,” remarked Hasani.

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