Cakaya: Common platform with Kosovo for dialogue with Serbia

Invited to a TV interview, Cakaj said that “I don't agree at all, and I'm saying it openly because I said it in another interview, the prime minister has already said, is that President Macron's statement carries some inaccuracies. Because one moment he says it seems strange how we can liberalise visas with a country that has not yet started negotiations. There are two completely different processes here objectively because the visa liberalisation process is a whole different process from the opening of negotiations for membership”.

Furthermore, during his speech, the minister noted that Kosovo is also paying because of the internal dynamics of member states, as Kosovo citizens are being denied free movement.

“From 2014 until the moment we are conducting this interview, than 100 million citizens from around the world enter the European Union space without a visa, and here a higher price than Albania, the Republic of Kosovo is paying because it is a country that has acquired all the conditions for visa liberalisation and because of the internal dynamics of member states it is being deprived of the opportunity to move freely”, Cakaj said.

The minister also spoke of the national road tax, which he said the latter has resulted from the need to improve the infrastructure of this road.

The road tax has come as a need to improve that road infrastructure. There are all assessments of good experts based on why it is set. But the street tax cannot be interpreted as the nation's division. If we move a Kosovo customs to the Durres Port, it is not considered an extension of co-operation, or you have only the mind of criticising such a tax of the” road, he says.

Cakaj said the challenge between the two countries is deepening co-operation, especially economics.

The minister said Albania has three main positions regarding the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. The first “that Kosovo must define its policy platform and, of course, Albania will support unconditionally. The second that Albania considers recognition of the Republic of Kosovo on the part of Serbia is necessary for a stable agreement. The third one we consider that such an agreement, of course, should be made in US and EU blessing”, he stressed.

The Republic of Albania cannot take a stand for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue by bypassing Kosovo. It is important that, with Kosovo's new government, we also create a common platform regarding dialogue against Serbia”, Cakaj concluded. /Attish/