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Albania–Kosovo relations

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Albania–Kosovo
Map indicating locations of Albania and Kosovo

Albania
Kosovo
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Albania, PristinaEmbassy of Kosovo, Tirana
Envoy
Ambassador Qemal MinxhoziAmbassador Nait Hasani

Albania and Kosovo have bilateral relations. Albania has an embassy in Pristina and Kosovo has an embassy in Tirana. There are 1.8 million Albanians living in Kosovo – officially 92.93% of Kosovo's entire population – and Albanian is an official language and the national language of Kosovo.[1][2] Likewise, the peoples of the two countries have practically identical traditions and folklore. Kosovo is the birthplace of Albanian nationalism such as the League of Prizren. In addition, the strong relations are highlighted in successive polls showing majority of ethnic Albanians in both states wanting unification.[3][4] Both countries and their citizens refer to the relationship as "one nation, two states" as highlighted in the popular pan-Albanian slogan "Jemi një" (We are one).

As a full member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Albania supports Kosovo in its NATO-integration path.[5]

Country comparison

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Common name Albania Kosovo
Official name Republic of Albania Republic of Kosovo
Flag
Coat of arms
Capital Tirana Pristina
Largest city Tirana Pristina
Government Unitary parliamentary republic Unitary parliamentary republic
First leader Ismail Qemali Ibrahim Rugova
Current leader Bajram Begaj Vjosa Osmani
Religion Islam, Christianity, Irreligion Islam
Official languages Albanian Albanian and Serbian

History

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Early history

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Further information: Illyria, Illyrians, Dardania (Roman province), and Dardanians

Modern

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On 22 October 1991, Albania was the only country whose parliament voted to recognise the Republic of Kosova, which had been proclaimed independent in 1991.[6] Official support was limited to the declaration. In 1994, when the Bosnian conflict escalated, Albania made a step back by recognising Yugoslavia's borders, which included Kosovo.[7]

Independence

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Prime ministers Hashim Thaçi of Kosovo and Sali Berisha of Albania at the opening of Kalimash tunnel

When Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008, Albania became one of the first countries to officially announce its recognition of the Republic of Kosovo. Diplomatic relations were established the following day.

On 18 August 2009, Prime Minister Sali Berisha of Albania was quoted as saying, "There should be no customs administration between the two countries. We should by no means allow Albania and Kosovo to view each other as foreign countries". This comment outraged Serbia.[8]

The Albanian Foreign Ministry, in a clarification note to Serbia, said: "Albania considers the independent state of Kosovo as a factor of peace and stability in the Balkan region, whereas its independence is considered as a clear step serving people, stability and European perspective of the region". It also said that the foreign policy of the Republic of Albania "is based on common objectives of Euro-Atlantic integration of the country, Republic of Kosovo and entire region".[9]

2019 Albania earthquake

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On 26 November 2019, an earthquake struck Albania. €500,000 were sent by the government of Kosovo and over €3,500,000 were sent by the Kosovar population. 110 specialised operators of the Kosovo Police were dispatched, as were 40 members of the Kosovo Security Force's Urban Search and Rescue Units.[10] President Hashim Thaçi was part of a presidential delegation that visited the earthquake epicentre and expressed his condolences on behalf of Kosovo.[11] On Friday, outgoing Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and his possible successor Albin Kurti visited Durrës to survey the damage and expressed Kosovan commitment to relief efforts and the need for institutional cooperation between both countries.[12][13] Displaced people have been relocated to Kosovo with 500 residing in a camp in Prizren established by the Kosovo government.[14][15]

The Kosovo Albanian population reacted with sentiments of solidarity through fundraising initiatives and money, food, clothing and shelter donations.[16] Volunteers and humanitarian aid in trucks, buses and hundreds of cars from Kosovo traveled to Albania to assist in the situation and people were involved in tasks such as the operation of mobile kitchens and gathering financial aid.[16][12][14] Many Albanians in Kosovo have opened their homes to people displaced by the earthquake.[17][12][14]

Relations

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Cultural

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In October 2011, an agreement was reached between the Ministry of Culture of Kosovo and that of Albania on the common use of embassies and consular services,[18] and in May 2012, a common primer for the 2012–13 academic year of first class students was approved by both governments.[19]

Economic

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The Albanian Konfindustria threw first the idea of an Albanian regional market in 2008,[20] and the idea about a common economic space between Albania and Kosovo was discussed by Kosovo government officials in 2011.[21]

They were reinforced especially by Behgjet Pacolli in some of his speeches in Albania: he claimed that the economic union would increase competition towards the EU.[22] Pacolli's ideas were endorsed by the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity.[23]

Since the beginning of 2019 there has been a customs office of the Republic of Kosovo in the Durrës Port. This simplifies the import of goods to Kosovo and relieves the Vërmica/Morina border crossing. Albania and Kosovo are gradually harmonizing their customs systems and are striving for a customs union in the long term.[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "- New Kosova Report – Birthate picks up again in Kosovo – Society". Archived from the original on 2008-11-19. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
  2. ^ Constitution of Kosovo, Article 5
  3. ^ "Barometer: 80% of Albanians support unification with Kosovo – Euronews Albania". 25 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Could the Kosovo story end in Greater Albania?". Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  5. ^ Taylor, Alice (14 July 2022). "Albanian prime minister calls for Kosovo's integration into NATO". www.euractiv.com.
  6. ^ Krieger, Heike (2001). The Kosovo Conflict and International Law: An Analytical Documentation 1974–1999. Cambridge University Press. p. 12. ISBN 9780521800716 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Florian Bieber; Židas Daskalovski (1 April 2003). Understanding the War in Kosovo. Taylor & Francis. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-7146-8327-0. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  8. ^ Serbia formally protests Berisha's statement
  9. ^ Tanjug (22 August 2009). "Albanian FM answers Serbia's protest note". emportal.rs. Archived from the original on 25 August 2009.
  10. ^ Robinson, Jack (26 November 2019). "Kosovars support rescue efforts in Albania". Prishtinainsight. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  11. ^ Mortimer, Caroline (28 November 2019). "Kosovan president caught up in aftershock when visiting Albanian earthquake victims". Euronews. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  12. ^ a b c Kostreci, Keida (30 November 2019). "Albania Search, Rescue Operation For Earthquake Survivors Ends". Voice of America (VOA). Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  13. ^ "Haradinaj e Kurti e vizitojnë Shqipërinë pas tërmetit" (in Albanian). RTV 21. 29 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  14. ^ a b c Kostreci, Keida (2 December 2019). "Albania Seeks International Support for Earthquake Recovery". Voice of America (VOA). Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  15. ^ "EU Leads International Help to Albania Quake Recovery". Voice of America (VOA). 2 December 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  16. ^ a b Krasniqi, Jeta (28 November 2019). "Kosovo's Heart Bleeds for Albania's Suffering". Balkaninsight. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  17. ^ "Shqiptarët solidarizohen me tërmetin, ja sa është shuma e grumbulluar deri më tani" (in Albanian). Insajderi. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  18. ^ Albania-Kosovo agreement rekindles old suspicions
  19. ^ Capital.bg. "Kapital Quarterly". Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  20. ^ "Konfindustria". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  21. ^ "Kosovo, Albania may form "economic union"". Archived from the original on 2011-09-09. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  22. ^ "Pacolli: Bashkim ekonomik Kosovë-Shqipëri". Archived from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  23. ^ "PDIU fton për bashkim ekonomik Shqipëri-Kosovë". 8 August 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  24. ^ Ullyett, Richard (2019-01-15). "Kosovo Customs to open offices at Albania's port of Durrës". Ports Europe. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
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