Macron demands that Kosovo and Serbia normalize relations

2024-04-12 19:14:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, said that the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia is necessary.

The French leader made this statement through a joint statement to the media with the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, who is in Paris on an official visit.

Macron also expressed support for the integration of the states of the Western Balkan region into the European Union.

"I want to repeat the commitment of France in favor of the European commitment of Albania and beyond, of the movement we have for the Western Balkans. As I underlined six months ago in Tirana, here it is only about acting for the unification of Europe, to make it stronger, more sovereign in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine, but also in the face of common threats and challenges. It is also a promise of peace for the entire region", Macron said according to the Albanian Prime Minister.

"I also want to welcome the special and strong voice of Albania in the region and on the international stage. This is what happened during the last two years when your country was in the United Nations Security Council. Recently, you hosted a regional summit in Tirana in which you also invited the president [of Ukraine, Volodymyr] Zelensky, to further strengthen support for Ukraine. This was an important moment for the unity of the region and support for President Zelensky and his people. In all regional issues, the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo is necessary, where your voice is precious", added the French leader.

Rama, meanwhile, evaluated the relations between Albania and France, which according to him, are already at another level. He thanked Macron for, as he said, his vision of a common Europe with the inclusion of the Western Balkan states.

"I want to thank you especially for two things. First, for the vision, the determination with which you encouraged, you pushed these new waves of rapprochement between the Balkan countries and the European Union, putting on the table the need to accompany this integration process with a process of approximation beyond the bureaucratic paths of each the country. Today we are witnessing the results for Albania, for all the countries of the Balkans, and our Growth Plan, which was approved by the European Parliament, is something that goes in this direction, a strong Europe, a united Europe, a Europe that does not remain hostage to the old ways, to the old traditional methods of integration, when there is something or nothing", said the Albanian Prime Minister.

During this two-day visit, Rama and Macron will sign two agreements. The intergovernmental agreement on the "contribution to the implementation of priority projects in Albania" as well as the loan agreement between Albania and the French Development Agency for the financing of the project "A foreigner for public policies to support the Renewable Capacity and Green Development of Albania", according to the Prime Minister of Albania.

Rama's meeting with Macron took place days after Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with the French leader in Paris.

After the meeting with Vucic, Macron demanded that Kosovo and Serbia implement the Agreement on the Road to Normalization - reached last year - stressing that France will ensure that every step of this agreement will be fulfilled.

This agreement, of 11 articles, provides, among other things, a level of self-management for the Serbian community in Kosovo and mutual recognition of state symbols, while it requires Pristina and Belgrade to also implement all previous agreements reached. during the dialogue.

He also demanded that all those involved in the attack on the Kosovo Police in Banjské i Zveçan face justice.

On September 24 of last year, a group of armed Serbs attacked the Kosovo police in Banjska, killing a sergeant. During the exchange of fire that followed, three more Serb attackers were killed.

Kosovo has accused Serbia of being behind the attack, an accusation that has been rejected by Belgrade.

The responsibility for the attack was taken by Millan Radoicic, former vice-president of the Serbian List, the main party of the Serbs in Kosovo that enjoys the support of Belgrade./ Rel