Cakaya: There is international agreement on Kosovo that can pass without being ratified in Parliament

In an interview for Kosovo Press, the acting foreign minister says Albania cannot help the visa liberalisation process for Kosovo, but that according to him, will address as issues in an effort to increase sensitivity for its importance.

For me, it is very difficult to assume the role of the interpreter for Kosovo. According to the European Commission itself, Kosovo has met all conditions to ensure visa liberalisation. From 2014 to today, the EU has liberalized visas for more than 100 million people worldwide. Visas have been liberalised in Ukraine, Georgia, and a host of countries measuring by the population more than 100 million. In this sense there is no room for concern of nature what is revealed in relation to Kosovo, for a population which is according to the latest provision if I do not err less than 2 million people, Kakaj declares.

Meanwhile, Cakaj considers that the visa liberalisation issue has not rarely been politicised, for which, according to him, the judgment on Kosovo should be based solely on European Commission recommendations.

This process has often been politicised and expressed concerns which objectively do not stand. And the judgment on Kosovo should be based on the commission's recommendations. And of course the progress Kosovo has made in many areas. Corruption also has in Albania, the question to open negotiations is not the total deterioration of corruption, because this is a process that depends on certain measure units ... Kosovo's progress must be measured compared to the issue we are discussing”, he declares.

He says Albania has long had a clear stance on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, which he emphasises support for Kosovo's official agenda.

As for the idea of exchanging territories, Cakaj expresses criticism in statements made about the role of the Albanian state in the process. He says neither he nor his chief Prime Minister Edi Rama can impose a harmful Kosovo agreement.

“We consider that dialogue should end with mutual recognition. We do not question this issue that dialogue should end with mutual recognition and clear prospects for EU and UN membership, and the process should be guaranteed by the United States of America and by the EU. It is quite simple and I don't understand why it is abused when the EU has a clear attitude that such a scenario is not in the agenda. When Ambassador Greenell, the US president's special representative excludes the issue, the issue continues and is brought to various addresses for low political attacks. In the end, even if no one was entrusted with what he was talking about in the matter, one thing is too true. That there is no international agreement for Kosovo that can pass without being ratified in the Kosovo Assembly. This is the issue Kosovo Assembly deputies -- elected representatives” -- can take responsibility directly, Cakaj says.

Albania's acting Foreign Minister, Gent Cakaj, says that since 2019, Albania has been committed more than ever to recognising Kosovo.

While talking about Albanians' decision from Presevo Valley to participate in regular parliamentary elections in Serbia, with a single electoral list, Cakaj says such a decision has been extended to strengthen Albania in the region. This agreement among Albanians in Presevo considers it important for ideological unification against Serbia.

“For the first time Albania plays its role, and with this Albanian political parties there expand the scope in addressing their issues in the function of defence and advancing their rights, and that I do not illusions that nothing will be done overnight, I have no illusion that now because of that coalition the situation will be dramatically overturned. But it is a necessary fact, their union in protecting and affirming their rights. The more united they are, the stronger they will be”, Cakaj points out in the Kosovo Press interview.

Acting Foreign Minister in Albania Gent Cakaj says once the borders are opened he will visit the Presevo municipality, however, acknowledges he cannot change the poor situation of Albanian residents of the valley.

Speaking of reports with incumbent Foreign Affairs Minister Glauk Konjufca, he said that so far they have had good co-operation, where they have agreed many times about the positions they will take as two states at different international conferences.