During his visit to Serbia, Prime Minister Edi Rama met with representatives of Albanians from the Presevo Valley, with whom he made a balance on what has proceeded positively and what has not with regard to the needs of the residents of the valley. After the meeting, Prime Minister Edi Rama and leader of the DAP Riza Halimi, gave a press release.
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Riza Halimi: It was an excellent, practical meeting about vital problems that Albanians in the Presevo Valley are facing today both in terms of education and economy. The Prime Minister of Albania made very specific proposals to have, through the twinning between the municipalities of Albania and those in Presevo, Bujanovac, Medvedja, etc., an incentive for the development of this region, but also a concrete cooperation of the Ministries of Education in Belgrade and Tirana to solve problems such as those encountered in textbooks, but also those related to the mutual recognition of the diplomas, although in political terms there is no problem in this regard from Albania and Macedonia, but we need to accelerate this process so that our young people who study in Tirana, Tetovo, Skopje, will be able to be employed quickly. This was the essence of this meeting, and I think that the meetings of Prime Ministers Vučić and Rama are a contribution to the stabilization of the region and to the opening of perspectives for a more normal life for citizens in the whole Balkan region.
Prime Minister Rama: We made a balance of what has been a positive development since the last time I met with the Prime Minister in Belgrade two years ago, and of what has not developed at the pace and in parallel with the needs of Albanians across the Valley. It is a positive fact, and there is no question that the progress with the diplomas is an important step forward. Now there is no longer any issue regarding the recognition of the degrees and, as I heard, this marks a step towards building mutual trust to cohabit as normally as possible.
The fact that finally the main infrastructure connected to the major segment between Serbia and Macedonia is being developed is absolutely very positive, for it will impact positively the Valley as well. Certainly it is necessary to solve the problem of textbooks, and there is a positive will for this, but some issues need to be addressed in technical terms. On the other hand we need to formalize specifically a process for which we are prepared, the twinning of the municipalities in the Valley with some of our municipalities, to promote joint projects, using also the positive experience of Urban Revival in Albania, and taking part along with other factors, to address some basic needs for kindergartens, nurseries, schools, for sports facilities, which the mayors mentioned earlier.
I am glad that the representatives of the Valley consider these developments in the relations between Albania and Serbia, and between our two governments, as very healthy and having a direct positive influence on the residential area of Albanians. Certainly there is room to do more, but I’m glad that during the tête-à-tête conversation with Prime Minister Vučić, I saw someone who was more likely to address one by one all the issues that require not only political will, but solutions from a technical and administrative viewpoint, – which I was confirmed also by our friends there – compared to the previous meetings I had with the Prime Minister who is committed also before them to advance a process which we certainly cannot hide that has many gaps to fill, and many shadows of the past to clear and to leave behind.
Our government has been clear about this approach since the first day, and it has been determined to open a new chapter in the relations between Albanians of the Valley and their home country. We will continue very willingly to promote the construction of bridges, both between Tirana and the Valley, and between Belgrade and the Valley, continuing to build also bridges between Tirana and Belgrade, which serve directly also the Albanians in the Valley.
