Rama, Serbian prime minister: Know Kosovo, free yourself from the past

Rama was invited to the “Southeast Europe's future panel, along with Serbia's Prime Minister Anna Brnabiq, where he spoke about the importance of regional co-operation and Albania's role in this co-operation, as well as the country's EU integration challenges.

What I see as a very positive reflection of this is how much things are changing in terms of population. It is a new way of life in the Balkans, a way that is radically cut off from the culture we lived in the past”, the prime minister said.

Under the prospect of regional co-operation and good neighbourly relations, Prime Minister Rama stressed among other things that by recognising Kosovo, Serbia will take a major step forward and will be eased from the burden of the past.

Kosovo is today a Republic. It's there and it works as an independent, sovereign state, with its institutions, and I'm very happy to say, with a very admirable model of respect for minorities, primarily for the Serb minority, which has representation in parliament, in the government. My conviction is, it has always been and remains that, by recognising Kosovo, Serbia will take a major step forward and will be eased by a burden of the past, which is an obstacle to looking towards the more relaxed future. ”

Speaking on the prospect of EU enlargement with new aspiring countries, the prime minister said countries are located at another historic moment -- that of completing the process launched.

We find ourselves at a different historical moment, compared to the stage of early fast expansion. We now face the need to complete the start process. It is not just about expansion but about the outcome of this process. Above all, Europe's strategic need is not to leave the Balkans as a grey zone, where other actors can put their hands in and promote their agendas, promoting potential conflicts. ”

The prime minister stressed among other things that it is very important for Balkan countries to be part of the European project, as a more factor for a safer Europe. It is very important to complete this project, precisely for the same reason that the anti-eropians stress, exactly for the reason for security. ”

The prime minister said, among other things, that today's Balkans are clearly positioned for the EU and that they are working hard on that prospect. What we are doing in the region today is not happening because we are different from our ancestors who fought. This is because there is a strong pro-European feeling in this region. This region is the right place to understand how attractive Europe is for people who know what war is, who have seen it, and know how bad things can go from it, so I replay once again the fact that even the integration process will help alleviate these frustrations and disputes. ”