Malaj: Albania has backed Franco-German plan and making Association, Kosovo to take its steps

Albania calls for Kosovo to establish the Association of Serb majority municipalities, as the United States of America reportedly has provided guarantees that there will be no executive competence.

For normalising Kosovo-Serbia relations, Albania's new ambassador to Kosovo, Petrit Malaj emphasises that Kosovo should take steps to work on the draft state introduced in October by Euro-American citizens.

Malaj emphasises that Albania strongly supports Kosovo for implementing the basic agreement and will continue to play its role in promoting peace, stability and co-operation.

Albanian diplomat in Pristina Malaj in an interview for Kosovo Pristina has also talked about relations between Albania and Kosovo, implementation of agreements reached between these two countries, as well as the Durres-Pristina Railway and its economic impact in the future.

“These things are taken over, I'm talking in this case about Kosovo and not talking about Serbia, and of course Serbia is setting its own bonds and never going any further, as said the next day, says. I mean that Kosovo should take its steps and Albania has actually been in this Sosa or in this direction of political action here in Kosovo, where it has supported the German franc plan and the making of association. Our prime minister ( Edi Rama has also submitted a draft, but it was not necessarily a draft. Kosovo can make the draft itself, or in the concrete case it has been served by international allies. But I know how to say that Kosovo has taken the right step and our prime minister has supported this. Prime Minister Rama saying that “Kosovo has already done what it has to do, but it remains to become its implementation. Understandably, our ally, the United States of America, QUINT all have said and strongly say that this association will not have executive competencies, and on the other hand must certainly be executed by going to the Constitutional Court, taking remarks like this is happening”, Malaj points out.

Ambassador Malaj has stressed that relations between Kosovo and Albania in political terms are considered to be among the best possible since the declaration of independence in 2008.

The “Relations are very good between Kosovo and Albania. I also say this by the relationship I have with politics here in Kosovo, but also with the common people, so they are good and are the best possible possible since Kosovo's declaration of independence. That's also the word I got from politicians here in Kosovo. It all works, everything has its own connection in different fields, whether for security, trade co-operation, health order, education and culture. Is there any possibility of doing much more no doubt there are, therefore, the institutions are both in Kosovo and Albania”, Malaj says.

Albanian diplomat Petrit Malaj also stresses that over 50 agreements signed between the two Albanian governments have begun to be implemented.

We have many agreements signed between the two governments, Kosovo governments and Albania. I've seen their actual realization. About 54 deals if I'm not wrong. And we're looking at what's stuck on us and why it's happened without moving any further. That's why I'm here just to influence to ease these situations that may be at some point in any agreement, which in most cases are left by bureaucratic situations but not for will and wishful thinking, he points out.

As for the Pristina railway, Durres, a month ago the winning company has been announced, which will implement the feasibility study for the railway line, which is expected to have significant impact on the two countries' economy, Kosovo-Albania.

This project for free movement of people and goods, Malaj has called it major for economic development.

“Co-operation between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Albania is vital, is necessary, is not only spiritual, but it is economic, it concerns the development of two countries... I've met one of the government ministers Kurti, we've just talked about other infrastructure investments, as is the Pristina-Durra Railway idea, that's a major thing for economic development. It will bring development not only from the perspective of free movement and people, but also the movement of goods... 15 is the important thing working out, it was an idea, it finally found ground. Its implementation will now begin as soon as this feasibility project is completed, and the construction of it” begins, he stressed.

Meanwhile, regarding trade reports between Kosovo and Albania, Malaj says his country has increased exports to Pristina for 20 percent during 2023.

We expect more, but year-on-year there has not been a year that has been negative. There have been increases every year. Last year was the trade report larger than last year, this year is about 20 percent greater in trade balance. It is important that Kosovo should increase imports more towards Albania, it has exported, but must increase imports towards Albania. Albania, on the other hand, has even more room to do to raise this 20 percent even more during 2024... 18,19 could be one of the causes (Serbia's import ban) that has affected Kosovo's import growth from Albania. It has not been imported so much from Serbia and may be one of the causes, yet I would say it is not dominant”, he stressed.

Albania's diplomat has spoken at the end of tourism, which stressed that Kosovo Albanians, in addition to expressing a great love for Albania, also want their finances from summer holiday spending to remain on the Albanian coast.