Serbian, Albanian PMs clash on Kosovo on historic visit

BELGRADE, Serbia (UPDATED) – An historic fence-building visit to Belgrade by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama took a disastrous turn Monday, November 10, when the leaders of the two countries clashed publicly over Kosovo.

All was going well as Rama and Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic spoke to reporters about turning the page on stormy relations between the two Balkan neighbors until the Albanian mentioned Kosovo, calling on Serbia to recognize the “irreversible reality” of its independence.

Vucic became visibly angry, declaring: “I will not allow anybody to humiliate Serbia in Belgrade.”

Belgrade refuses to recognize the breakaway former Serbian province populated mostly by ethnic Albanians, which unilaterally declared its independence in 2008.

“I had not expected a provocation from Mr Rama, that he would talk about Kosovo, because I don’t know what he has to do with Kosovo,” Vucic said.

The public spat erupted during the first visit by an Albanian prime minister to Serbia in 68 years – a trip which had to be delayed for three weeks after a heated diplomatic row in the wake of violence at a football match between the two countries.

The match in Belgrade was abandoned in chaos on October 14 after a drone flew over the stadium carrying a flag which included a map of “Greater Albania” incorporating parts of Serbia.

Belgrade had initially accused Rama’s brother, who watched the match from the VIP section, of having operated the drone, but the authorities went silent shortly afterwards and said a probe was under way.

Rama told reporters the two sides had different positions over Kosovo “but there is only one reality – independent Kosovo is recognized by 108 states in the world”.

“This is a reality that is irreversible and this reality should be respected,” he said.

But Vucic, obviously trying to keep his anger under control, shot back.

“I have to reply to him because I will not allow anybody to humiliate Serbia in Belgrade. Kosovo is part of Serbia under the constitution and it has nothing to do with Albania nor will it ever have.” 

Rama’s visit was aimed at helping turn the page on the past, marred with disagreements over Kosovo.

Vucic insisted that Kosovo was not on the agenda of the talks, nor was it discussed during the leaders’ one-on-one meeting until Rama brought it up at the press conference.

Missed opportunity

The flare-up in tensions after the football match in October, a qualifier for the 2016 European championships, derailed hopes that the visit might improve relations between the two countries, which both hope to join the European Union.

The visit only went ahead after pressure from Brussels to calm the situation down. 

Albania was granted EU candidate status earlier this year, while Serbia in January launched accession talks with Brussels.

In his address to the press, Rama also called for the rights of the ethnic Albanian minority in southern Serbia to be respected.

The Albanian leader is due Tuesday, November 11, to visit the Presevo Valley, a region in southern Serbia with a 60,000-strong ethnic Albanian community hit by poverty and high unemployment. 

In 2001, the area was the scene of violent clashes between Serb forces and ethnic Albanian guerrillas fighting to unite it with Kosovo. 

Tensions have remained high ever since as Belgrade often suspects the Albanian minority of seeking secession, while ethnic Albanians complain of a lack of political will to give them more rights.

Hours after the meeting and contentious press conference, the two prime ministers vowed to press ahead with efforts to improve relations, though Vucic continued to condemn Rama’s “provocation.”

Rama described the discussion as “difficult but healthy, truthful, straightforward, a very good base to go on”. 

“Despite difficult talks and a vivid press conference, we continue to work. I really hope that PM Vucic will come to Tirana next year to continue this conversation,” Rama told a forum on cooperation between Serbia and Albania.

Vucic wrote on his twitter account he “regrets that Prime Minister Rama’s provocation has led to a missed opportunity, but we would still like to work together for the future of our region.” – Rappler.com