TIRANA, June  26 /ATA/Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Monday that “the return of the Kosovo policemen to their homes is delayed, but nonetheless very good news, because it puts an end to the arbitrary deprivation of liberty for three people who have not committed any crime and reopens the path for – deescalation and dialogue.”

The return of the Kosovo police to their homes is delayed news, but nonetheless a very good one because, first, it puts an end to the arbitrary deprivation of liberty for three individuals who have not committed any crime, and second, it reopens the path of de-escalation and dialogue. I’m glad that the force of reason prevailed over the reason of force. I hope that with the force of reason, the long-awaited de-escalation can start immediately and we can further resolve the knots of the final normalization process between Kosovo and Serbia.

We have just landed in Brussels, where shortly I will meet with the President of the European Council, the esteemed friend of Albania and our region, Charles Michel. I will convey our significant concerns about the critical situation in the region and my conviction regarding the necessity of a time-bound conference, where, within the walls of a hospitable structure under the care of the Euro-Atlantic community, the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia should finalize all points of the normalization agreement.

Unfortunately, lately both parties have had their eyes on domestic politics and polls inflamed by nationalistic rhetoric. The crucial dialogue for the future of the entire region and its relations with the democratic world has been sidelined. Meanwhile, the situation in the North of Kosova is deteriorating by the hour and minute, increasing the possibility of a God forbid Balkan “Donbas” right in the heart of Europe. Even just contemplating this possibility is catastrophic, therefore it must be eliminated at all costs.

Strategic shortsightedness in approaching the dialogue, the delay in implementing the excellent French-German plan, the shift of focus towards displays of force, and consequently, the deterioration of the situation in the North can cost this entire region, undoubtedly Serbia, but especially Kosovo more than anyone else, an irreversible setback with long-term consequences.

Albania will do its utmost to prevent this from happening because it would be a total misery for the fragile peace we have built over the years, within the framework of the Berlin Process and through various initiatives, to crumble like a sandcastle due to the resurgence of the Balkan madness wave, pushing us all off the European integration path into the old powder keg in the heart of Europe

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