Press conference of the Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic:

I would like to thank Prime Minister Vucic for this visit and to express at the very outset my belief that these 24 hours of his stay in Tirana will serve as an impulse for him to gladly come back to our country.

I additionally wish that the positive impressions of his 24-hour visit to Albania may encourage my Serbian counterpart to persuade upon return his fellow citizens to visit Albania, especially during summer. And since we have the Serbian media present, I will seize the opportunity to assure them the positive ways in which they will be surprised by the vacation spots, food and hospitality they will find here.

Prime Minister Vucic is in Tirana for a bilateral meeting, as previously agreed. At the same time, he is here to take part in a meeting organized by the Government of Albania in partnership with the Vienna Economic Forum, on the occasion of Albania concluding its SEECP presidency.

Due to ongoing reconstruction works on the Prime Minister’s Office ground floor, which soon will be open to the public as well, we organized the reception ceremony for the Serbian colleague in this palace.

Prime Minister Vucic is the first visiting official of this rank from Belgrade to be received in Tirana with all due protocol honours. Hence, today, in the course of six months, we had the first exchange of visits at Prime Ministers’ level between Tirana and Belgrade, following a very long-standing ice era in the relations between our two states. This is, to us, an undisputed sign of our common will and aspiration to bring our two nations closer, although we are far from agreeing on everything.

But, this fact is also a sign of our common awareness and conviction that today, both Albanians and Serbians have a historic chance to turn this hard-won peace in the region into a peace worth living for.

I do believe that both Albanians and Serbs have an opportunity to do for our good and that of the region what the French and Germans did for themselves and Europe, in the aftermath of World War II. The Albanian Government stands firmly behind its declared goal of advancing the agenda of a borderless region, where Albanians and Serbs shall rid themselves of year-long inherited barriers, ranging from the historical, economic, trade, social and cultural barriers, to all those barriers that have, so far, been in our way of projecting a future together, of projecting a future not simply along political lines as a common destination on the integration path to European Union, but tangibly through joint development and support of projects in infrastructure, energy, tourism, education, culture.

We are way too small to keep from coming together in our effort to grow the economy and amplify the positive energy our people need so badly in this era of extraordinary opportunities and equally serious challenges for each and all of us. It is my belief that our common success is the only way to go to achieve the desired success for our nations and countries in this region we live and that is so much intertwined with our fates.

The fates of the Balkans countries are so interdependent that it is impossible to imagine a situation whereby one leaps much ahead and the other stays behind or a third is stuck on the way for a reason or another, which, in a way or another, is linked to one or the other or both of them, because we live all of us with parts of the other, even when apart. That should have us all motivated to look at our own right direction as inseparable from the right direction of the other and by individually moving forward along the right path of our countries’ integration into the European Union, we do with and for the other, not any more, not any less than what we expect the other to do with and for us.

The courage France and Germany found to walk along one another after World War II, overcoming enormous blood rivers oozing from a history embedded with extreme division must inspire us to transform this yet unknown time of peace among us, into the historic stage of building the foundations of a stable co-existence in interethnic, interreligious and interstate peace and harmony.

The history of division between Albanians and Serbs is one that makes the present challenge of forging a durable peace among us a common responsibility that extends to the entire region’s future destiny. The very fact that even a single soccer ball risked to send us spiralling down to point zero was very much telling of how fragile this time of peace is and how heavy a burden the challenge of its transformation into a new stage of co-existence and interaction among us may be.

The truth that where there’s a common will, a common path exists is a valid for us, Albanians and Serbs as well, although a mountain of discord rises high in between when it comes to the issue of Kosovo. Such disagreement, however, does not diminish the significant value the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo is imbued with, being for us the courageous prologue of a new chapter not only in the relations between Albanians and Serbs, but in our common history in the region, as well.

Without an a dialogue opening between Kosovo and Serbia, the Berlin-launched process of regional cooperation along the European integration path, under the leadership of Chancellor Merkel and friendly Germany, would have resulted impossible today. Impossible would have been also for Albania and Serbia to take on the path of concrete cooperation, to accomplish common projects on integrated infrastructural and energy networks or, no less but on youth cooperation, under the inspiring example of post-war France and Germany.

It is with pleasure that I reconfirm today the full willingess of the Serbian party and Prime Minister Vucic to implement the Agreement on the Mutual Recognition of Diplomas for young people, earlier agreed upon in principle during our last meeting in Belgrade, having also had the chance to give the news to Presevo Valley Albanians the next day. They expect more from the Government of Serbia and Prime Minister Vucic in exchange for their willingness to fully respect the state and institutions of Serbia.

That same expectation do we have in Albania for the Southern Serbia Albanians to be granted the same dignified treatment as that reserved to Serbs of Northern Kosovo. The dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which Albania supports from the beginning by commending the courage and resolve of the leadership of both parties to move forward, must progress in side by side with the implementation of agreed accords, as it is in no one’s interest that a dialogue so vital to the future of the region remain a European success story on paper. That is why realization of Kosovo’s fully-fledged involvement in the regional and international bodies and initiatives, under the principles of inclusiveness and concurring with the commitments made by both parties to keep from hindering the process, is an imperative not simply for the dialogue to be productive, but also for the strengthening of the much-needed mutual trust, the stability of a yet fragile peace and of cooperation bridges still weak in the region.

The tragic Kumanovo event was another proof of the fragility of the peace we have so much and for so long dreamt of in the Balkans and for the Balkans. This is the case to stress that Albania views the territorial integrity and democratic functioning of Macedonia as its own undisputable interest and that of the Albanians in Macedonia, as well as of the entire region and Europe itself.

Either the idea of the Macedonian State integrity violated or of the democracy in Macedonia failing to function are unacceptable to us.

We want a Macedonia that is stable, democratic and, unquestionably, one that observes Ohrid Agreement both in letter and spirit, to ensure the coexistence everyone wants between Albanians and Macedonians, as two inalienable state-building factors for Macedonia.

We are firmly against any form of manifestation of xenophobia and ethnic division. I want to strongly reiterate today that all countries inside and outside of the region must distance themselves from calls and standings that trigger events of this kind in the Macedonian or the entire Balkans.

Such manifestations are part of a Balkans we think belongs to the past. Cries of such nature have nothing in common with our present vision, mission and effort for the Balkans of the future. We are strongly aware that peace among us emanates from the European dream of each of our peoples. They know very well that no matter how shaky Europe appears today in face of the threats emerging from inside and outside of it, the European Union is that sole space where the human rights and freedoms of our peoples and citizens can be ultimately safe from the anti-democratic threats inside and outside of us.

That is why the present of the Balkans is Europe, the future, the European Union.

There is only one possible way to go for all of us. That is the way of joining our strengths to revive our countries and the entire region through fulfilment of our peoples’ European dream by working with commitment and showing much patience with and for one-another, by empowering democracy in our countries and stepping up interaction among us to further achieve democratization of inter-ethnic and interreligious relations, by coming together to defend the peace we strove so hard to achieve from any geo-political danger posed by third-parties outside Europe and, equally so, from any kind of terrorist and extremist threat. Such threats, different for their origin or method applied, but similar in their intent to fuel tensions and confrontations in a region that, united, has just turned towards the future after emerging from an endless history marred by strains and conflicts, are intolerable.

If currently the relationship between France and Germany is rightfully said to be the European Union stability axis, it would not, I believe, be lack of modesty for both Albanians and Serbs to aspire within Balkanic settings to a transformation of their relations into a similar testimony that a bloody war history can give rise to the example of a joint peace success.

The time is now for Albanians and Serbs to finally show that not only good neighbourhood but an active interaction of mutual benefit among neighbours not only constitute cornerstones of peace, but also the true power of a fully-fledged involvement of the countries of our region in the common history of the United Europe social and economic development.

I see this visit and this first exchange the highest ranks as a sign of connection to such aspirations. Hence, I am once again thankful to Prime Minister Vucic for his visit to Tirana and by heartedly giving him the floor, I wish that relations between our countries are intensified and that the relationship between Albanians and Serbs turns into a strong sign distinct of the new Balkans era.

 

-Mr Rama, as Prime Minister Vucic said, you have been attending many meetings in Brussels, China and this is all a testimony of your willingness for relationships between the two countries to move forward. On the other hand, issues have arisen with neighbours, as, for instance, with Macedonia, in relation to which you have declared you would veto their NATO membership. Further, problems appear to surface with Greece in relation to the sea and appointment of Mr. Idrizi as Deputy Speaker of the Assembly and the same appears to be true with Turkey. What is going on Mr. Prime Minister? On one hand, you are mending relations with Serbia, and on the other, things are deteriorating with neighbours. Thank you.

My commitment in Belgrade was that whatever the Prime Minister said, we would not feel provoked. And, actually, we don’t, although, as I underlined, we have two entirely irreconcilable positions over Kosovo’s issue. With regard to what you elaborated in your question on relations with neighbours, let me reiterate that we see the relationship between Albanians and Serbs as key to the region’s future.

As for Greece, we have a long-established good neighbourhood relationship, as well as a defined strategic partnership, and we definitely have no problems with Athens.

I have sent my congratulations to Prime Minister Tsipras and invited him on a visit to Tirana. At that, I would be happy to visit Athens. On the other hand, I don’t see any reasons on earth for which Athens or any Tirana-based circle of scholars or politicians have to be surprised with the Albanian State asking Greek authorities for information on their searching in the sea, in line with the routine diplomatic and international law practices. In the meantime, there is no secret when it comes to the effort that has not begun with the new Government of Athens to find a common language and address a question that is of national interest to us, and, I believe, also of bilateral interest, and which is the maritime border.

We want to continue along the path of the cooperation that has started. Even in the past, we have had a good cooperation with the government led by Prime Minister Samaras. We have addressed the very old and quite challenging issue of toponyms for Albanians and have kept an open dialogue on the maritime question.

We have no intention to negotiate our national interest just to give the idea of good neighbourhood.

On the other hand, we have committed ourselves to pursuing a zero-problem foreign policy with neighbours, but have not, however, committed to closing our eyes before an emerging problem we have neither created, nor keep feeding.

Further, when it comes to the question of appointment of the Albanian Parliament Deputy Speaker, it is unimaginable for us to tell Athens who they are to appoint as head or deputy head of their parliament or who they are supposed to nominate in a sovereign government, as much as it is inconceivable, on the other hand, that Athens or any other capital city for that matter tell us how the parliament elected from a sovereign people should act.

I do believe, thus, that the question is clear to us and so should it be to everyone. This is an entirely artificial problem.

Regarding Macedonia, I would like to say that what I have stressed and will continue to stress is highlighted by the Wales Summit Declaration. I have neither threatened, nor declared any veto-related standing. The word “veto” has been coming from you, with the help of certain Tirana scholars and politicians. We are NATO members and, therefore, speak, on NATO’s behalf when it is about giving a voice to NATO common declarations.

Thanks also to our insistence, the Wales Summit has included the improvement of inter-ethnic relations and the Ohrid Agreement in the objectives Macedonia is required to fulfil, in order to become a NATO member.

Consequently, we have rightfully stated this and will continue to do so. It is not a threat or a bid to block, but a standing.

Meanwhile, we were pleased last night to receive confirmation from Prime Minister Gruevski that he will be here and one of the guests. So, we have now completed the number of all Prime Ministers invited to attend tomorrow’s meeting. Thank you.

 

-I am Natasha from the Radio-Television of Serbia. You mentioned earlier that you want Albanians in southern Serbia to have increased rights, but we believe Serbians in Albania would be likewise happy, if granted the same rights. My question is what would be best to improve the position of Serbs living in Albania?

I have said that Albanians in southern Serbia demand and deserve to receive the same dignified treatment as Serbs in North Kosovo have. I believe this follows the spirit of our joint effort to deliver by the force of example and not the example of force the vision that has led us into a closeness that is so important and strategic for the region.

As far as Serbs in Albania are concerned, I have never heard so far of any complaint of such nature. I want to state this proudly that Albania, and Kosovo as well, or wherever Albanians have the opportunity, have guaranteed a spectacular treatment of the minorities and all those of different nationality, irrespective of whether they have been defined as minorities, based on international conventions.

 

-I would refer in my question to an interview of Prime Minister Vucic three days before this official visit to Albania. Mr. Vucic, you have declared that what happened in the Belgrade stadium during the Albania-Serbia soccer match taking place last October had a political backdrop and that both Mr. Rama and you know who is responsible of flying the drone over that stadium. It is a question addressed to Prime Minister Rama, as well. If you know, can you tell us the name? If you are aware of who the authors are, then, to the extent of my knowledge, how come there is no one inquired, arrested or declared wanted as author of such event?

I do not want to go back to the drone that made us subject to headlines and attention across the world. I simply believe that being not a vision, or a project, or a programme, Greater Albania does not affect us when it appears, be it in the form it was shown over the Belgrade Stadium.

If we had seen any flags of Greater Serbia, we would have all laughed at it, without taking it so seriously. However, this is a question of perception of the two parties and I’d rather not go down that path, as I believe what lesson was to be drawn out of that story has already been learned by both parties. The lesson in question is that this peace so great, so long-sought after and welcome by all Balkans peoples is as frail as to be endangered by a mere soccer ball.

Nevertheless, we have bravely overcome that moment. We are here today in this return visit of Serbia’s Prime Minister that is a clear herald of our common will to look ahead and of our joint conviction that, apart from disagreements or one monumental disagreement, there is endless room of common opportunities and responsibilities.

In my view, Albanians and Serbs are not only responsible towards themselves, but also towards the region and Europe. It is the way in which these relations will evolve and how Albanians and Serbs will work with and for this peace that will define not only how Albanians and Serbs will be tomorrow, but how will the region and Europe be like in the future.

It has been and still remains a conviction of mine that if until 10 years ago we needed Europe, but it could well do without us, today Europe needs us, the Balkans, just as the Balkans need Europe. The future of the Balkans is directly linked to the future of the security, peace and a normal existence in the European Union itself.

 

-Mr. Rama, six months ago in Belgrade you talked about Kosovo’s independence. Today, you speak about the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. Has you rhetoric shifted? You have said that a Greater Albania project is non-existent for you. Do you find the idea of Greater Albania unacceptable?

We have been clearly strong supporters of the dialogue since day one. I have to remind you that we even started an initiative to send a request to the Nobel Prize Committee, in order to award with a Nobel the two leaders who started the dialogue and Baroness Ashton.

So, the dialogue was the moment of a significant turn for us, as it marked the end of the history of conflict and practically, it has, in our view, sanctioned definitively the time where the smoke lingering over Yugoslavia before and after its dismantling died out. I underlined the importance of dialogue in Belgrade, but, of course, I have neither changed nor will change the position regarding Kosovo. My conviction has been and remains that recognizing Kosovo would be a great relief for you, as well, for Serbia. However, I don’t want to delve into the matter right now, as today you are our guests and we respect guests with all their sensitivities.

With regard to Greater Albania, I have declared in unquestionable times and have no hesitation to repeat that Greater Albania is just an idea promoted and nourished by those who do not have the good of Albanians at heart. It is not us, it is not our nation which seeks any expansions at the expense of anyone; it only aims at self-determination and a normal co-existence with everyone.

Hence, there is no Greater Albania project in Albania. There is no devise of Greater Albania among us. There is only one project that we have, one that will unify us on the path of the European Union. We want a Balkans without borders. We obviously want no borders for and between Albanians, but also no borders between you and us, and all the other peoples.

I think we owe that much to our people and to one another in this new time, where the stories, myths and folkloric nationalisms of the past have no chance of finding room to prevail, although they might, like in Serbia, be present everywhere. They are not, however, connected to our inclination and resolve to build a common future and make the Balkans, through each and any of our countries, an integral part of Europe and its social and economic developments.

What the Prime Minister said in relation to a project and our willingness to offer joint support for such projects, is an exact expression of such resolve, since Serbia and its Prime Minister support at the same time the project of the Blue Highway connecting  South Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece.

Our wish is to have as many friends, visitors, tourists from Serbia visiting the Albanian shores and it is evident that similar infrastructural connections will extremely facilitate the process of bringing us closer, and, thus, we are determined to jointly support them.

We believe that Albania and Serbia must speak in one voice and knock on the doors of Brussels and the United Europe by having a strong vision and arguments. Peace is quite fragile, but also too heavy a weight on our shoulders. We need a much stronger, much durable and much tangible support from the EU and the European Commission. We are convinced that together we can receive more support than separately. This is what we want to do together, in the belief that this is the only way to give our people more economic development, more social development, more integration and facilities, which, eventually, strengthen peace and interaction.

Thank you very much.