American Embassy Supports Mini-Schengen, Kosovo Must Be Part of It

The Tirana summit, which was held on December 23rd this year, was third in a row towards concreteising the Balkan Mini-Sengen.

Leaders of the three Balkan countries -- Albania's Edi Rama, North Macedonia's Zoran Zaev and Serbia's Aleksandar Vuciq -- had agreed on the regional Schengen project, viewing it as a strategy that will not only accelerate the region's economic and social development but also the time of EU membership.

But, at this summit, for the second time, it has refused to be part of it, the country's president Hashim Thaci. The first time Thaci had refused to attend the second summit, which was held in northern Macedonia, known as the Ohrid Summit, for the fact that when this summit was held in Serbia for the first time Kosovo was bypassed.

President Thaci has argued that Serbia has committed genocide in Kosovo, and now except that it denies the massacres, continues to reject the existence of our state.

Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina do not recognise the state of Kosovo. This implies that these two states do not want good neighbourly relations and co-operation with Kosovo. Therefore, as long as there is no mutual recognition with these states, there can be no progress in terms of regional co-operation”, President Thaci has declared.

Objections in Kosovo for holding the Tirana summit were powerful. Some of them, even with hysteria tones towards Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, whom they even crucified as traitors of the nation.

In addition to incumbent Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, reactions and objections have also come from political party leaders in Kosovo, such as LDK leader Isa Mustafa.

Mustafa has even said that the idea of Prime Ministers Rama, Zaev and Vuciq for Mini-Shengen, saying the new Yugoslavia is being built, with Albania part of it, but without Croatia and Slovenia.

The Balkan minister's issue has enabled Serbia to declare the Kosovo Academy of Sciences as well.

AAK finds such an initiative aimed at ruining the European perspective of the Balkan region.

But what does the biggest international supporter of Albanians, the US, say about the minister?

For the United States, the idea for regional co-operation of Western Balkan countries is very welcome.

In a statement issued in November this year, the US even says that Kosovo should necessarily be part of the Balkan mini-eschegen, which then enables free movement and other economic opportunities for all the countries involved.

“We welcome the initiative of the Western Balkans' émini-Shengenı; a way to start free movement of people and trade. We believe this initiative to be successful should include all in the region, including Kosovo Government. The Trump administration is focused on helping the entire region create economic opportunities and jobs for youth”, the US Embassy's statement in Germany said.

We remember that for the furious reactions of politicians, analysts and citizens in Kosovo, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama two days ago while thanking all those who have insulted him had raised another question:

I've been following you with regret on your attempt, to crucify me as “trander”, “sold <xx4>, “blog”, even bad “and even <x>dial<10> and any other language of yours, is free of charge. Thank you. Now I'm asking you a question, like “the brother of Vuqit”, you or “and you're going to have to kill: How do you think, “my brother” the Serbian likes Kosovo to come to the table or not to come?” has asked Rama. /Periscopi/

The US Embassy statement in Germany issued on November 14th this year.

https://de.unsegesy.gov/statement-on-western-balkans-mini-schengen/?fbclid=IwAR3SGZKZWO2U7MQY2BN47Bef8th5vvQ7Xir 50n11YPVIXICW