Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania has always been a peace-loving country and has actively promoted regional cooperation and peace in the Western Balkans over the past decade. However, he described the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia as an unresolved issue.

Speaking at the Paris Peace Forum, Rama was asked how Albania could contribute to lasting peace in the region, particularly amid ongoing tensions between Kosovo and Serbia.

“I can proudly say that Albania has always been a peace-loving country. Over the past 10 years, we have made active efforts to promote peace and cooperation with all countries in the region,” Rama said.

Turning to relations with neighbouring countries, he stressed the importance of cooperation and good neighbourly relations. He also recalled a saying from his grandmother to illustrate his point.

“There are some things in life that you cannot choose, no matter how free you are. You cannot choose your cousins or your neighbours. That is a matter of fate. Neighbours are where they are, and they will always be there. So, it is better to try to get along with them. Otherwise, you invite trouble. My grandmother used to say: ‘A happy neighbour makes a happy home.’ The opposite can be very challenging,” he said.

Rama said Albania had done everything possible to encourage regional cooperation, with some degree of success. Nevertheless, he noted that relations between Kosovo and Serbia remain a major challenge.

“We have tried to do everything we could, with a certain degree of success. However, when it comes to Serbia and Kosovo, the situation remains uncertain. Even relations between the European Union and Serbia do not seem to be improving,” the Prime Minister said.

Speaking specifically about Kosovo, Rama stressed that its independence is an established reality and that Serbia’s recognition of this fact would help normalise relations across the region.

“Meanwhile, Kosovo is an independent state, recognised by many countries, although not by all. There is no turning back. There is no way to turn it into another Serbian fantasy,” he declared.

Rama added that Serbia would benefit from accepting this reality as soon as possible.

“The sooner Serbs understand that they must accept this as a fact of life, the better it will be for them. Otherwise, they will continue to be haunted by this issue, which prevents relations in the region from becoming fully normalised,” Rama said at the Paris Peace Forum.

/a.c/