Albania–Kosovo relations

Albania–Kosovo relations

Albania
Kosovo

Albania–Kosovo relations (Albanian: Marrëdhëniet Shqiptaro-Kosovare) refer to the current, cultural and historical relations of Albania and Kosovo. Albania has an embassy in Pristina and Kosovo has an embassy in Tirana. There are 1.6 million Albanians living in Kosovo - officially 92.93% of Kosovo's entire population - and Albanian is an official language of Kosovo.[1][2] Likewise, the peoples of the two countries share common traditions and folklore.

As a full member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), Albania supports Kosovo in its NATO-integration path.

History

Early history

Modern

In 1992 Albania was the only country whose parliament voted to recognise the Republic of Kosova, which had been proclaimed independent in 1991. Official support was limited to the declaration. In 1994, when the Bosnian conflict escalated, Albania made a step back by recognising Yugoslavia's borders, which included Kosovo.[3]

Independence

Prime ministers Hashim Thaçi of Kosovo and Sali Berisha of Albania at the opening of Kalimash tunnel

When Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008, Albania became one of the first countries to officially announce its recognition of the sovereign Republic of Kosovo, which is recognised today by 113 out of 193 (58.5%) United Nations (UN) member states.

On 18 August 2009, Prime Minister Sali Berisha of Albania was quoted as saying, "There should be no customs administration between the two countries. We should by no means allow Albania and Kosovo to view each other as foreign countries". This comment outraged Serbia.[4]

The Albanian Foreign Ministry, in a clarification note to Serbia, said: "Albania considers the independent state of Kosova as a factor of peace and stability in the Balkan region, whereas its independence is considered as a clear step serving people, stability and European perspective of the region". It also said that the foreign policy of the Republic of Albania "is based on common objectives of Euro-Atlantic integration of the country, Republic of Kosova and entire region".[5]

Relations

Cultural

In October 2011, an agreement was reached between the Ministry of Culture of Kosovo and that of Albania on the common use of embassies and consulary services,[6] and in May 2012, a common primer for the 2012-13 academic year of first class students was approved by both governments.[7]

Economic

The Albanian Konfindustria threw first the idea of an Albanian regional market in 2008,[8] and the idea about a common economic space between Albania and Kosovo was discussed by Kosovo government officials in 2011.[9]

They were reinforced especially by Behgjet Pacolli in some of his speeches in Albania: he claimed that the economic union would increase competition towards the EU.[10] Pacolli's ideas were endorsed by the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity.[11]

See also

Note

Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008, but Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the Brussels Agreement. Kosovo has received formal recognition as an independent state from 113 out of 193 United Nations member states.

References

  1. ↑ "- New Kosova Report - Birthate picks up again in Kosovo - Society". Archived from the original on 2008-11-19. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
  2. ↑ Constitution of Kosovo, Article 5
  3. ↑ Florian Bieber; Židas Daskalovski (1 April 2003). Understanding the War in Kosovo. Taylor & Francis. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-7146-8327-0. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  4. ↑ Serbia formally protests Berisha's statement
  5. ↑ "emportal.rs". Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  6. ↑ Albania-Kosovo agreement rekindles old suspicions
  7. ↑ Capital.bg. "Kapital Quarterly". Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  8. ↑ "Konfindustria". Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  9. ↑ "Kosovo, Albania may form "economic union"". Archived from the original on 2011-09-09. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  10. ↑ "Pacolli: Bashkim ekonomik Kosovë-Shqipëri". Archived from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  11. ↑ "PDIU fton për bashkim ekonomik Shqipëri-Kosovë". 8 August 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
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