President Milanović after meeting with President Begaj: Albania should have been closer to concluding negotiations with the EU; Kosovo is a reality that will be recognized by all European states
“Albania should have long ago been in a much higher stage for integration into the European Union. There was not one actual political, security or economic reason for Albania not being closer to concluding negotiations”, the President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović stated after his meeting with the President of the Republic of Albania Bajram Begaj, who is on a two-day State visit to the Republic of Croatia.
Albanian President Begaj began his State visit to the Republic of Croatia by holding discussions with his host the Croatian President who stated that the friendship between Croatia and Albania is a deeply established fact. “We would like to help Albania more on its membership in the European Union”, President Milanović noted, adding that Albania has not made strides in its negotiations primarily on account of prejudices, not only against Albania but also against some other states. “The only reason is prejudices on the part of Western Europe, prejudices towards the Balkans, towards Muslims. If we fail to help Albania become part of the West, someone else will come to replace us”, the Croatian President stated.
“All rational arguments speak in favour of the fact that states such as Albania and North Macedonia should have been in the European Union or at least on its threshold. We will keep talking about this. We can help that much”, President Milanović said, lending full support to Albania’s accession to the European Union. “We will not miss even one opportunity, as we haven’t in the past ten years, to underline the importance of Albania and North Macedonia becoming a part of European society, as soon as possible”, President Milanović stated in concluding his address.
In replying to a journalist to what extent Croatia and Albania are able to help Kosovo in getting closer to membership in international organizations, he said: “Kosovo is a reality. The greatest majority of European Union and NATO member states have recognized it, some states haven’t, and why not, they wouldn’t even be able to explain. Croatia was among the first to recognize Kosovo. It’s a reality that Kosovo is part of Europe and that, in the very near future, it will be recognized by nearly all European states, and Serbia find itself in a political schizophrenic, divided situation”.
President Milanović stressed that he doesn’t advocate Kosovo’s independence in order to provoke Serbia, but “that we try to convince them that it’s reality”. Not wanting to assess what is Serbia’s interest, President Milanović stated: “When there will be more reason and, I am confident, politics based on the fact that the majority of citizens have accepted reality, it will be better for Serbia too. I don’t know what Serbia’s interest is, but I know what is ours and Albania’s – stability, normal relations, attempts to carry a dialogue with people in Serbia and in the Republic of Srpska. Let’s talk, let’s try, we’re realistic. And Kosovo will need patience, Kosovo is on the right path. We will contribute actively as much as we can. We can’t do much, but at least we can by having a clear stance, if we can’t otherwise”.
“This is my second foreign visit as President of the Republic of Albania. First, I visited the Republic of Kosovo, which is very meaningful to me. My visit to Croatia is significant in the framework of relations that are built between two countries, and in the context of regional and European events. I had the opportunity to have a long, special, and friendly discussion with President Milanović. Focus was on strengthening mutual relations, and Albania’s European integrations. We shared a common viewpoint on relations between Albanians and Croats that have reached a historical climax thanks to historical relations that have traditionally been of good quality and friendly between our states and peoples. Of course, the basis of these relations is common views on foreign relations and on the future of the Western Balkan region”, President Begaj stated after the meeting.
Recalling that last year marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two states, the Albanian President said that he believes that now “we must focus on strengthening economic ties. Legal frameworks are not lacking, we must do more in this regard. Croatian investments in Albania are welcome, especially in the sectors of energy and tourism in which Croatia has exceptional experience, but also in other areas such as infrastructure and agriculture. In order to get better connected and be able to have a direct impact on tourism, I feel that it’s time to establish direct flights and to connect our ports”, President Begaj noted.
For good relations between the two states, in his view, a crucial historical role was played by the Albanian diaspora, the old and the new one. “The old one, I mean the Albanians of Zadar who arrived on Croatian soil 300 years ago, thanks to the support they received from Croatian authorities, and to this day have managed to preserve the language, the tradition and the culture. I am very proud when I hear that the Albanian community in Croatia is considered to be an essential part of Croatian society”.
He confirmed that Croatia can be an excellent model and example for Albania in terms of EU accession, and expressed his gratitude for Croatia’s support to Albania. “Croatia is one of the main advocates of the integration of the entire Western Balkans. I especially appreciate the full support of President Milanović and of Croatian institutions to Kosovo, both in the process to recognize Kosovo and in the process to include Kosovo in regional and international institutions”, President Begaj stated to conclude his address.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta, Marko Beljan