Yesterday, Prime Minister Edi Rama was in Croatia to meet with the prime ministers of Croatia Zoran Milanovic, Montenegro Milo Djukanovic and Bosnia Vjekoslav Bevanda. The meeting was initiated in the context of the Berlin Conference on the Western Balkans, dated August 28, in order to coordinate their stay in this conference.

After the meeting, the prime ministers informed the public on the topics discussed in the meeting, the exchanged views and priorities with which the region will be presented at the Berlin Conference.

Prime Rama said that from the Albanian Government’s point of view, a new time has come for the Balkans that requires a new perspective on regional cooperation.

“100 years ago, precisely in this region started World War I. Today, it is the era of the first year of peace in the whole region. It is the first year that the region is living without any conflict. But this peace is too big to be borne on our shoulders separately, so we must unite all together, “- Prime Minister Rama said.

Prime Minister Rama, who before this meeting had a coordination meeting with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, said that they will take this new spirit of the region in the Berlin Conference, where they will speak with new ideas and development projects, among which the Adriatic-Ionian highway.

“Today we are here, all together, with the Prime Ministers of Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia, to have a common position at the Berlin Conference related to a major project, the “Blue Corridor” highway that will connect the rest of the Mediterranean, north Croatia to south Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece, to eventually create the “Mediterranean Ring” – Prime Minister Rama said.

Besides assuring full support on the part of Albania to this project and to any regional development project, Prime Minister Rama said that sustainable cooperation in the region is a must for the prosperity of the Western Balkans and for bringing forward the European integration process.

“Of course, this is not the only topic, but this is the subject of this common position, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Albania and Kosovo will strongly support this project, because for us it is necessary to make a strong step forward towards integration of the whole region and the sustainable development of economic and sustainable regional cooperation that we all together need. We feel really very good, because we have the opportunity and we are fortunate to have Croatia speak for us within the European Union, while we will talk more the Balkan language outside the European Union to persuade the European Union to be more present in the region, “- the Prime Minister said.

The Croatian Prime Minister as well, Mr. Zoran Milanovic expressed Croatia’s support for the realization of this project, calling it “a route that links the region.”

“This project has not been realized yet, although it is important also to Croatia, as a continuation of the track road that links the region; it is understandable that it is important for Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina, which of course comes immediately after Croatia. But I would say that it is important for Kosovo at the moment, though the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo is not here. This has been the main topic we have discussed, and this is a goal that we want to achieve together, “- Prime Minister Milanovic said.

Prime Minister of Montenegro, Mr. Milo Djukanovic stressed that this meeting shows the maturity and responsibility of all countries in the region. In addition, he said that the development of road infrastructure and energy is as a prerequisite for the overall economic development of the region.

We are trying to understand the scenario of how to replace that very long time when our countries were stuck in comparison to European level of development. For this reason we are focused on what we believe represents the first step, or prerequisite to the overall economic and democratic development. For Montenegro there is no doubt that this prerequisite is the development of road infrastructure and energy and in this context, the Joni-Adriatic highway has had a special attention during our conversation. I am glad that we absolutely agree that this is an important corridor and object, which should provide opportunities for consumption of all those achievements and European standards for all citizens of our states, “- Prime Minister Djukanovic said.

Full support for the realization of this project was shown also by Prime Minister of Bosnia, Vjekoslav Bevanda.

“Look at the geographical map and you’ll understand it all, how essential this Corridor is and how many good things it will bring us. We have talked openly also about other topics, but it is quite normal that after the presentation in Berlin, we will be able to tell you whether we have found understanding and support for our ideas, “- Prime Minister Bevanda said.

In conclusion, the four prime ministers showed that they have the same priorities as well as the same need for a closer communication between the countries in the region and with European partners.