TIRANA, Aug. 9 /ATA/ – Albania’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Serbia was important, but rejected any comparison between Kosovo’s independence and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Serbia is important. Dialogue is always welcome, particularly when it creates space to address difficult issues with clarity, responsibility and sensitivity,” the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The Ministry reaffirmed Albania’s firm support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and European future, while maintaining the same support for Kosovo’s sovereignty, independence and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
“There should be no misunderstanding on this point: any attempt to draw a parallel or create an equation between Kosovo and any other international situation is wrong, opportunistic and profoundly misleading,” the Ministry said.
It said Kosovo’s case is rooted in its own historical, political and legal circumstances, citing a 2010 opinion by the International Court of Justice that Kosovo’s declaration of independence did not violate international law.
“Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is an entirely different matter. It constitutes a grave violation of the U.N. Charter and international law, as well as a flagrant breach of the rules-based international order,” the Foreign Ministry stated.
Foreign Ministry underlined a peaceful, stable and European Western Balkans required recognition of the “reality and irreversibility” of Kosovo’s independence, which it said had contributed to regional stability.
At the same time, the Ministry said Serbia and Kosovo share a European future and that normalising relations between them, ultimately leading to mutual recognition, would benefit both sides.
“Normalisation would not weaken Serbia. On the contrary, it would help close one of the most painful chapters in the recent history of our region and pave the way for genuine reconciliation, good-neighbourly relations and lasting peace,” the Ministry said.
Foreign Ministry also welcomed Zelenskyy ‘s visit as advancing Ukraine’s interests and said any step that helped Serbia move further away from Russia’s malign influence and closer to Europe was positive.
“Every engagement is also an opportunity to advance a fundamental understanding: the Western Balkans must move forward, not backward,” the Ministry said.
The statement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed during a visit to Belgrade a day ago that Ukraine’s policy on the non-recognition of Kosovo remains unchanged.
/k.s/r.e/u.sh/
