[ALBSA-Info] {QIKSH «ALBEUROPA»} Albania Ready To Establish Links With Belgrade

[Nikoll A Mirakaj]

Albania Ready To Establish Links With Belgrade 

TIRANA, Nov 9, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) Albania said Wednesday it wanted to re-establish contacts with Belgrade to reinforce regional stability and cooperation, despite openly supporting Kosovo's independence from Yugoslavia.

"The Albanian government wishes to establish contacts with Belgrade to reinforce regional cooperation and resolve outstanding issues between countries in the region," said the Albanian foreign ministry.

"These contacts would by very useful for the stability, security and peace in southeast Europe," the foreign ministry added.

This is the first time Tirana has declared itself in favor of renewing relations with Belgrade, after they broke down a few years ago over the fate of ethnic-Albanians living in Kosovo.

During a speech at a Balkan summit last month, Albanian President Rexhep Meidani referred to elections in Kosovo as "a vital milestone on Kosovo's path to self-government and self-determination," adding that he looked to a future in which Kosovo would be "a new sovereign entity in southeast Europe."

A UN Security Council resolution has given the province substantial autonomy but has kept it within Yugoslav boundaries, a ruling that Yugoslavia's new president Vojislav Kostunica firmly points to when questioned over Kosovo's future.

Albania's comments come a few days after Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic expressed a desire to "establish the best possible contacts" with Tirana.

"If we want Serbs still living in Kosovo to remain there, and encourage others to return, we have to find in Albania partners to resolve this problem," the foreign minister said. ((c) 2000 Agence France Presse) 

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