Ambassador Malaj: Have co-ordination in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue

He said communication exists, has existed and will exist, while it has requested co-ordination in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

The full interview with Albania's ambassador to Kosovo, Petrit Malaj, for Radio Kosovo.

Radio Kosova: Mr. The ambassador, on the eve of November 28th, the anniversary of Albania's 112th Independence, can you tell us what the role of Albanians in the Balkans is?

Petrit Malaj: This year I am in a jubilee year, we have the 112th anniversary of independence, but we have the 80th anniversary of Albania's liberation, a jubilee year, 80 years are not short, it was a success story of Albania and Allied forces that finally saw the light of freedom. I think that Albania and Albanians in the region enjoy this anniversary of independence for many reasons, because I think that today reality has brought the Albanian factor more powerful than ever, the Albanian factor has gained points in the international arena, that the Albanian factor is heard the word and is part of different international bodies to strongly protect the Albanian issue. One of the priorities of Albanian foreign policy is this, that Albania has a priority, and in all the divisions coming from the foreign ministry, it is that this role is strengthened even more. The initiatives that await us are such that require support from all Albanians and require the role of everyone in the region, and why not, to be in the bloc towards the European path that Albania, Kosovo and the Albanians of northern Macedonia, the Albanians of Montenegro. We all had a dream to go to Europe. Albania has taken a decisive step this year, opening the first chapter for negotiations with the European Union. I assure you that in Albania, the Albanian government has done a great deal of work for this advice and has even more work for other chapters.

Radio Kosova: Mr. The ambassador, you are currently on diplomatic mission to Kosovo, how you assess political and diplomatic co-operation between the two countries. What are the biggest challenges we face between the two countries?

Petrit Malaj: Each gives his opinion on Kosovo-Albania relations. I can tell you that there have been never better relations between the two countries, and I say that political relations where the Albanian government and Kosovo have an extraordinary dynamic of contacts and implementation of those agreements they have received at joint meetings. They have a daily dynamic in terms of key moments, of increasing co-operation either cross-border, business, cultural, political, if so. I who say that know because I have everyday contacts with the two governments. You know we have intergovernmental cooperation. You know that Kosovo is already a strategic priority for Albania, it is not a word but is a powerful basis for this relationship. Economic relations in recent years have also known tremendous growth. In 2023 alone, there was a trade trade trade that totals 400 million euros. Look, people are inclined to say that the prime minister so and the prime minister, I had a meeting with Prime Minister Kurti yesterday and we talked about co-operation, and we talked about the next meeting between governments. Work is being made for the next meeting between the government, for new agreements. Just this year that I am here, we have inaugurated two roads connecting the Albania-Kosovo cross-generation -- two roads that have helped Albanians move freely. So there's been a few veins that have made it move freely. On the other hand, we have numerous agreements in terms of security.

Radio Kosova: Mr. Ambassador, mentioned that preparations are under way for the joint meeting between the two governments, can you tell us when this meeting will take place?

Petrit Malaj: No, there is no defined item, there are some thematics that deserve attention to be addressed by the two governments -- that is, some of the major concerns or moments that require agreement, whether with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Interior or the Ministry of Agriculture that all of these, ministers from Kosovo and Albania have discussed -- and they are all under discussion, and it will obviously be a meeting of governments that will sign agreements. It's not the thing that we just signed agreements but we've put them on. You know very well that the free movement of Albanians from both countries is an absolutely free movement that up to nine months has no control from either side.

Radio Kosova: How do you see the report between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti?

Petrit Malaj: It's not a matter of persons, it's a state issue, and I would say that as long as there is interstate communication between prime ministers, on particular issues, I think that communication exists, it exists and it will exist. It's not necessarily that they should come to the media for everything. I assure you that I am one of those who carry out this communication in case of emergency when necessary. I know to say that the two prime ministers have met in Tirana, met at various international meetings, communicated, dealing with common concerns. Everything is on that level that I don't care about.

Radio Kosova: Mr. Ambassador, dialogue is one of the main topics in Kosovo, do you consider that Albania has sufficiently supported Kosovo in this process, and can it do more?

Petrit Malaj: Dialogue is a process. Albania has always been to recognise concrete steps. We can only say that dialogue is the possible solution to this. The Kosovo government has taken steps in this direction, as it has been present at meetings, has set up the topic for what belongs to it as an independent and sovereign state. There was a platform of Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq, whom Albania named destabilising, in fact blocking precisely for dialogue, which had several thesis that a form told this dialogue back then. We are for dialogue to continue, to exist, for agreed agreements to be implemented, and to go towards that report on mutual recognition. Things have not gone the way we wanted, but we continue to insist that dialogue should continue and that it is the only solution. We have strongly condemned the attack on Banjska, Albania and not only, internationally has been condemned this attack, which is orchestrated. A process has already been opened in the state of Kosovo, we expect that process to advance and undoubtedly the prosecution and justice system to carry out what it has for its state to reveal the truth. Certainly Albania has had a request for the Government of Kosovo, as do all allies, to co-ordinate with allies. We have in fact seen that the Government of Kosovo recently expressed this conspiracy and is co-ordinating with allies precisely to resolve these important elements that must be resolved. We have always demanded that we have seen as Albania itself when we have had that good moment of co-ordination with allies with the US, the European Union, Albania has moved ahead.

Radio Kosova: Mr. Ambassador, we already have new leadership in the European Union, do you think that the new Foreign Political Commission, Kaya Kallas, will create a new dynamic in dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia?

Petrit Malaj: We will have new dynamics in dialogue not only for Mr. Kallas at the helm of the European Union's foreign policy, but elections in America will also have an impact on a pace in a dynamic resolution of this problem. Nobody sets the position instead of this moment, Kosovo has managed to be an independent state that sovereignty has in its entire territory. Kosovo must recognise priority in this report with Serbia precisely to get to mutual recognition. I think the Government of Kosovo will create relevant relations with new structures in the European Union to advance everything that is in Kosovo's best interests.

Radio Kosova: Mr. Malaj, the impression that the world has entered a new rerun after choosing that Donald Trump president of the United States, does this impose greater unity in the sense of functioning of a nation of two states and the common definition of national interests.

Petrit Malaj: Actually, we're a nation of two states, and we're good to be like this. I am not a pessimist at all, I see elections in America as a wheeling that will undoubtedly further carry those initiatives and the support it has had for the Western Balkans. You see the words of who is being deployed US Secretary of State, where he is judged to be a person who has respect for Albanians. And in this sense why we have to think things aren't going well. I think things should go properly, that Kosovo is and will be an independent state, that Kosovo will recognise prosperity, and that Albania is behind it in any support of all the steps Kosovo takes.

Radio Kosova: How much further can economic and energy co-operation between Kosovo and Albania be strengthened?

Petrit Malaj: We energy have a common market, we have decided, it has entered the Albanian stock market, the energy of Kosovo. I've been part of several conferences, some of the meetings that have been held by Kosovo's respective bodies with the relevant bodies of Albania, and I can tell you that the interconcition lines are in co-operation, and everything is very good, which I would say in other areas to extend this relationship and this co-operation as we have in the field of energy. We have excellent co-operation in the field of energy where Kosovo when it needs energy from Albania and Albania when it needs energy from Kosovo. Kosovo is working very hard to get adventures in terms of green energy, where it is a very positive step. I would say not only Albania but Kosovo is both so on a clearly thought and straight path, where we have a lot of work to do but that the steps have been laid and much what is thought of. I did not mention the relationship you requested between both governments and meetings or something else. Look, we have a big project, we have a project that we have never even dreamed of becoming a railway from Shkodra in Gjakova to Pristina. But that's how it is now, when you read it like that, it's extraordinary. I would say that there is a group that has been established and is working on the feasibility of this railway, of this huge project between these two countries, and where Albania and Kosovo are absolutely expressed, are strongly expressed to support this project. Let's wait, that things don't happen in the blink of an eye, but they have their rhythm, they want their time, and I would say we appreciate it very much because it will not only bring this normal connection that we already have but will bring economic growth will do what it will connect Albania with Kosovo with all the railway network in Europe. So all that's positive, all that goes right. Do we have to do, we have to do in our family, even in our family in Albania, we are not satisfied with many things, and how we can then be satisfied with such a large body as the State or when talking about brotherly relations which no doubt require dynamics, seek growth, seek love, also seek love. Without love, nothing can be done, and we have this love that we Albanians have in common this love as if it were different!

Radio Kosova: Mr. Malaj, you come from the field of culture, what are the opportunities to further develop cultural projects between the two countries?

Petrit Malaj: There's a lot of projects in the field of culture that I didn't touch earlier, so good to have you open it now! I come from the world of art, the world of culture and that diplomatic mission that I have here in Kosovo, no doubt this carries a huge weight for me and I've worked with the staff here at the embassy to have lots of projects, many activities that offer us further with each other or cause us to dislodge feelings and feelings, respect and love, to spread our traditions even more with each other. I'm telling you, now comes Flag Day in Tirana and there's gonna be a big concert where there's gonna be Ansambly” Shota” part of the concert and our state-run singing and dance ansemble, therefore, will be a joint concert. We did another concert here in Pristina of these two structures a few months ago, and a joint project continues in the theatre field, Albania and Kosovo national theatres.

On the other hand in cinematography, we have many joint cinematographic projects. Know that Albanian films in Kosovo have a remarkable success and that they have been closely followed.