Kosovo president criticizes 'Open Balkan' and Albania indifference

[Wizz]

https://www.euractiv.com/section/pol...-indifference/

President Vjosa Osmani has criticised Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama for his continued collaboration with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on the Open Balkan project.

The Open Balkan initiative is between the governments of Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia and provides for the free movement of people and goods. But critics have queried whether it is still tenable following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and considering Vučić’s refusal to align with EU sanctions or publicly condemn Moscow.

Osmani said that in this context and also because Serbia does not accept Kosovo’s sovereignty, Rama should not be a part of the initiative.

“I do not know why Albania would accept such an initiative where Kosovo will not be treated as a sovereign state and where an important role is played by Vucic, the leader of a state that on a daily basis tries to destabilise Kosovo and violate its sovereignty,” said Osmani.

“It is incomprehensible to me why such a thing is supported by Albania…why they continue to support such an initiative is a question that should be asked to Albania,” she added.

Kosovo has not joined the initiative as Serbia refuses to recognise its independence, declared in 2008 after the Serbia-Kosovo war of 1998-1999. This, combined with Serbia’s lobbying, means Kosovo has struggled to join various institutions like UNESCO, NATO, and the EU.

“Unfortunately, a mentality of the ’90s continues where Serbia continues to see other countries in the region, in particular, the Republic of Kosovo, Montenegro, but also Bosnia and Herzegovina as temporary states,” said Osmani.

She condemned Serbia for preventing Kosovo Serb citizens from voting in Kosovo during the recent elections. Osmani said Belgrade had been offered three options but had rejected them all.

“In fact, it was Serbia that prevented Serbs from voting. Kosovo institutions have given the right to Serbian citizens to vote either through the liaison office, post office or by signing a bilateral agreement that would fully respect the best international practices in this regard. So there were three options, none of which was accepted by Serbia,” said Osmani.

By wanting to open polling offices in Kosovo, Osmani said this aimed to undermine Kosovo’s sovereignty. Osmani confirmed Kosovo is in the process of applying for membership in the Council of Europe.

In terms of NATO membership, she said it remains a strategic goal, but four nations still do not recognise the country.

“NATO membership is a much more complicated process as it requires a unanimous vote and a unanimous decision. There are still four countries in NATO that have not recognised Kosovo. Our steps are to make sure we meet the criteria for membership in this organisation,” she said.

[Wizz]

Serbian troops at the border of Kosovo months ago

[Wizz]

SERBIA THREATENS KOSOVO OVER COUNCIL OF EUROPE MEMBERSHIP



“The day we find out that they have officially applied for membership in an organisation, our response will be much stronger than they think and will not be just a statement to the media. Believe me, we will show you our teeth,” Vučić told local media. [EPA-EFE/ANDREJ CUKIC]

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has threatened to deploy a ‘strong and serious’ response if Kosovo moves forward with its application to the Council of Europe.

“The day we find out that they have officially applied for membership in an organisation, our response will be much stronger than they think and will not be just a statement to the media. Believe me, we will show you our teeth,” Vučić told local media.

The statement comes two days after Vučić met with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Berlin to revive the EU-facilitated dialogue for the normalisation of relations between the two countries.

Following the meeting, Kurti announced his government would apply for membership in the Council of Europe (CoE) and NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme.

Meanwhile, sources told Kosovo news agency RTK that a powerful member of the CoE is ready to extend Kosovo an invitation to the Council, and they expect Kosovo to receive membership swiftly.

In March, the European Stability Initiative (ESU), a Berlin-based think tank, urged Kosovo to apply for membership in the CoE following Russia’s suspension from decision-making in the organisation.

The think tank argued that Kosovo has all the votes it needs to join the organisation, given that 34 of its 46 members recognise Kosovo’s independence.

On Thursday (4 May), Knut Abraham, a German MP, tweeted that he had received confirmation from ministers that Germany is ready to support Kosovo’s membership bid.

Serbia threatens Kosovo over council of Europe membership

[Wizz]

I cannot wait mr Vucic pussylips . You gonna start another Balkan War and World War ?

[Voskos]

Albaniah has been taught to sell itself to imperialist (German, American, Russian) interests since long ago, same goes for Greece, Serbia etc. Don't fool yourself.

[Wizz]

Albaniah has been taught to sell itself to imperialist (German, American, Russian) interests since long ago, same goes for Greece, Serbia etc. Don't fool yourself.

Imagine going into a pact with a country that is a threat to your peoples existence. This is basically what Albania has done.
Looked only after it's own interests. People in Kosovo should boycott that shithole. Go to Montenegro or Greece for vacation instead.
By these same people we have also been taught to dislike Greeks because of the Epirus and Cameria thing. I say it's not our problem.

I saw many of these Albanians from Albania on another forum blaming Kosovo Albanians for absolutely nothing or any evidence.
They are in general people that have complexes towards the Kosovars. Unification with these people is never gonna happen.
Why should the people of Kosovo let themselves be ruled by some corrupt government in Tirana. Their politics have always been anti-Albanian
and mostly of self interest.

[Russki]

Albanians will never feel safe and comfortable in Kosovo.

It will be an eternal zone of tensions until Albanians realize that they have to go back to Albania.

[Wizz]

As sad it sounds, things like this even make me wanna denounce my own ethnicity. Albania is a country that does not care about it's people and a lot of it's people only care about
themselves.

This is the country that I am supposed to fight for ? They have given us a step to further distance ourselves from that place. Never will I step foot in that country again.
They speak also different. Sometimes it's hard to understand. Many of them look different. Good luck, ANALbania.

Apart from some small groups which were never subdued, the end of the major Kacak resistance came when Yugoslav government helped Ahmed Zogu to return to power in Tirana in December 1924, in exchange for his suppressing the Committee for the National Defence of Kosovo.[5]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azem_Galica