Albania’s Rama: Serbia should recognize Kosovo, apologize to Kurti

NEWS 23.09.202212:59
John Thys/AFP

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said he fully agrees with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti that Serbia should not only recognize Kosovo but also apologize to Kurti, but that they disagree on when this should happen, Beta reported.

“I think that recognition and seeking of forgiveness is the end of the process. The process does not begin with recognition and seeking of forgiveness,” said Rama in a television appearance from New York where he is attending the UN General Assembly session.

Pristina media quoted Rama as saying that his relationship with Albin Kurti is fantastic.

“We really have sweet, very friendly communication… which means that we talk a lot about different topics, confront opinions on different political philosophies. The communication is truly sweet, brotherly and friendly. That’s how it should be, a civil and friendly relationship,” said Rama.

Commenting his relationship with Kurti, Rama added that they “do not have to agree on everything.”

“We don’t agree on the approach to Serbia, on recognition and on seeking forgiveness, we don’t agree on the ‘Open Balkan’ (initiative), but this does not stop us from agreeing on many other things,” said Rama.

Rama said he will address the Council of Europe on October 12.

“The issue is very sensitive. The Council of Europe has written a very dark page, supporting Dick Marty’s report. This relationship is completely different today. I will also address the Council based on the fact that the Albanian Parliament has adopted a resolution, by consensus, rejecting Dick Marty’s resolution. The Council of Europe should distance itself from those criminal charges that have caused great damages to Kosovo. That is our initiative,” said Rama.

Swiss Senator Dick Marty investigated claims of organ trafficking by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during the Kosovo war in 1998-99. The CoE Parliamentary Assembly adopted Marty’s report which said that Kosovo Serbs and non-Albanians were abducted and their organs harvested inside Albania.