Rama: Kosovo, Serbia overcome disagreements to make Russia unable to influence the region

He has also said that Kosovo and Serbia should quickly overcome disagreements to make Russia unable to influence the region.

“I have to thank Russia's President Vladimir Putin because thanks to him, the European Union has realised how important it is to keep the Western Balkans as close as possible, and how important the Western Balkans are for the EU”, Rama has said during a discussion on the fragility of the Balkans, within the framework of the Globsec Forum, which is being held in Prague of the Czech Republic.

He has said that the Balkan region is in a better position than it has been, and that in addition to the economic aspect, he has said he sees no great difference between the Balkan region and the EU.

Even today, the Balkan region would be an added value for the EU”, he has said, when speaking of the importance of the region's membership in the European bloc.

Asked whether Russia has made any attempts to mix in Albania's internal affairs, he has said Albania is not interested in it, “has no appetite, so Russia does not find many people to serve even before”.

We've had something [Russian influence] but not something massive. It is very present and can do much harm in other parts of the Balkans. That's why we need Kosovo and Serbia to overcome that conflict, so we need to keep Serbia as close as we can. The more we connect EU membership with NATO membership, and the more NATO is present in Balkan countries, it will be better”.

He has said that if Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina were members of NATO, as well as Serbia once later, the situation would be completely different.

Of the Balkan countries, only Kosovo still does not have candidate status for EU membership, though it has applied to become a member. /rel