Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama drew attention to the importance of dialogue and agreement in resolving the ongoing tension between Serbia and Kosovo.
Rama met with President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, as part of his Western Balkan tour.
Rama stated that it is necessary to develop cooperation and peace in order for the Western Balkan countries to enter the European market.
Regarding the tensions in the north of Kosovo, Rama stated that the way of dialogue and agreement will lead forward.
Evaluating the extension of the establishment process of the Union of Serbian Municipalities as a mistake, Rama emphasized the importance of peace.
President Vucic, on the other hand, said that he is not happy with the possibility of new conflicts and that the Union of Serbian Municipalities should be established.
The main reason for the tension between Serbia and Kosovo is stated to be that Serbia sees Kosovo as its own territory.
Speaking at the joint press conference, Rama said that new ways and plans can be made for the Western Balkan countries to enter the European market, “We can’t agree on everything, but we can do our best to develop cooperation and peace.” Regarding the ongoing tension in the north of Kosovo, Rama said, “We are hesitant to express our thoughts openly so that the situation does not get worse. For me, the way of dialogue and agreement, not escalation of tensions, will take us forward.” he said.
Rama asked, “Will the north of Kosovo turn into Donbass?” He said: “No one should underestimate the risk of tensions turning into an armed conflict and we should never allow such a thing to happen. In such a case, we can only compare with Donbass. The current situation is at a controllable level within the framework of the articles determined by the international institutions to reduce the tension. The important thing is to find a solution and overcome the problem.
Evaluating the extension of the establishment process of the Serbian Union of Municipalities as a strategic mistake, Rama said, “I see the insistence of elected mayors to stay in office in the boycott environment as a mistake.” he said.
Stating that they don’t just want peace in Vucic, they are working on it as well, adding, “I think that everyone who is normal does not rejoice at the possibility of new conflicts. The weight of the problems we face is huge.” used the phrases.
Regarding the tension in the north of Kosovo, Vucic said, “The Serbian Union of Municipalities needs to be established. This should have been 10 years ago, but it was not established.” said.
Tensions continue in northern Kosovo
On 26 May, Kosovo Serbs protested the election of Albanian mayors who won the local elections on 23 April in the municipalities of Zveçan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic, where Serbs are concentrated in the north of Kosovo.
There was a clash between the Kosovo police, which was sent to the region to protect the Albanian mayors, and the Kosovo Serbs.
Serbia detained three people, who were determined to be members of the Kosovo police, in the border region of the two countries on the grounds that they were “planning an action in Serbia” on 14 June, while Kosovo claimed that the police were “abducted” by Serbia.
Serbia released Kosovo police on June 26.
Kosovo police also detained about 10 Kosovo Serbs for different reasons, and Serbia demanded that these people be released as soon as possible.
It is stated that the main reason for the tension between the two countries, which come face to face from time to time, is that Serbia sees Kosovo, which declared its unilateral independence in 2008, as its own territory.
Within the scope of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Process, initiated in 2011 under the mediation of the European Union (EU), efforts are being made to find a common way for the normalization of relations and ultimately for the two countries to get to know each other.
Source : Balkan News
