After Kosovo was not invited, Albania, Macedonia boycott ministers in Banja Luka

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, Ditmir Bushati, has refused the invitation to participate in this conference, which includes “Western Balkans and EU membership: stronger regional co-operation for a faster European integration process”, organised with the initiative of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, designed to be held on February 23rd, in Banja Luka.

The spokesperson for the Ministry for Europe and the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, Edlira Prendi, has announced about “Kahen Ditore” that the Minister Bushati has informed his Bosnian counterpart Igor Crnadak with a letter, in which he expresses his regret for disrespecting the format of six Western Balkan countries and the missing invitation to Kosovo, suggesting in these conditions his non-partship at this meeting. In its argument, Minister Bushati has communicated to Minister Crnadak that there can be no meaningful and constructive discussion on the Western Balkans' road to the EU, without all Western Balkan members present in the spirit of understanding, respect and inclusion.

The cause of Kosovo, as well as Macedonia's Deputy Prime Minister Bujar Osmani, has rejected the Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Foreign Affairs invitation to attend Friday's meeting, to be held in Banjaluka. Even in spite of the fact that I confirmed my presence at that conference, since I realized that Kosovo was not invited even as Macedonia's deputy prime minister that it would not help the process a conference in which one of the six states would not participate, so I informed organisers that I would not participate in the” conference, the two days before holding Macedonia's deputy prime minister, Bujar Osmani.