Pal Lekaj: Durres Railways ão Pristina and Poor Port are ideas of Haradinaj Government

The following week, the meeting between the two Kosovo-Albania governments took place.

At this meeting, several agreements were signed. Several civil affairs agreements that were voted in the Kosovo and Albanian Assembly, which went into effect on June 30th this year, were ratified.

The construction project of the trade project in Porto Romano, integration with the Durres-Pristina Railway and the Dry Port in Kosovo was presented.

In a proposal for Abc Nes Nea Albania, AAK deputy, once former Minister of Infrastructure, Pal Lekaj indicated that the railway project was conceived at the time of Haradinaj government.

“Gjakova-Pristina, I can say it has been envisioned since 2018, during the Haradinaj government. I'm glad this project is being planned to continue because it positively affects the two countries, especially in cargo transport. I can say that a great deal of work has been done for this project while I was a minister because the feasibility of the railway trajector, which describes exactly where the railway lies. We do not object to the continuation of this project, we give it great support, as in that form we develop our own region”, Lekaj said.

Asked whether it relates to the idea of the Open Balkans project, this project, Lekaj stressed that it is not against this initiative. According to him, Kosovo has never blocked any initiative that in essence has regional co-operation and economic development. Lekaj said Kosovo should not oppose this initiative, but provided Kosovo is a member state equal to other states.

“in this case has been talked a lot about the Open Balkans idea. I think that Kosovo has never hampered any regional initiative that benefits development and economic co-operation. However, in this case, others must understand Kosovo. Kosovo is recognised as a state by all countries in the region and has excellent relations with all but Serbia, which continues not to recognise Kosovo as a state.
In this direction Kosovo's stance should be understood, because Kosovo should become part of this initiative only as an equal side. In this regard, no misunderstanding. We say yes to regional initiatives, we say yes to regional co-operation, but provided Kosovo is equal to other states”, Lekaj said.

On the other hand, Lekaj stressed that the Open Balkans is a good idea that would boost economic development in the region and facilitate the free movement of people and goods.

“If Serbia recognises Kosovo, we have no problem becoming part of regional initiatives affecting economic development and free movement”.

We can only say yes to the Open Balkans if Kosovo is accepted as a state. Only if Serbia accepts Kosovo as a state, and Kosovo is treated as an equal state with other members in this initiative, should we say yes”, Lekaj concluded.