Bushati-Gjeloshaj in Public Square: Albanians and the European future of Montenegro

2024-09-29 12:16:00, Politikë CNA

Bushati-Gjeloshaj in Public Square: Albanians and the European future of

Ditmir Bushati starts the new season of Public Square with Albanians and the European future of Montenegro. In a conversation with the First Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy Nik Gjeloshaj, Bushati discusses the political developments in Montenegro, but also the reports and connectivity projects in the Albanian space, which in this case affect Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro.

For Ditmir Bushati, the political situation in Montenegro has two schools of thought, one that believes that the country is in a political mess, after President Milo ?ukanovi?'s party left power, and another somewhat more optimistic school, represented by President Jakov Milatovi? who sees the country in the EU. While Nik Gjeloshaj supports the idea that in terms of European integration, Montenegro is taking the biggest steps it has had in the last thirty years.

Bushati discusses especially the Albanians in Montenegro, who have always been considered as a determining factor of positive developments and the Euro-Atlantic trajectory of the country, but today, it seems as if their role is somewhat more limited, more relativized, as far as while the ruling alliance is colorful and multidirectional.

According to Gjeloshaj, "time has quickly proven that when we talk about Albanians in Montenegro, we will talk about the time before and since the creation of the Albanian Forum for political and economic progress and for the integration of Albanians in institutions" and the strategy followed has made to "be an Albanian political factor as much as we take the weight from the citizens and as such have our political weight, our political authority towards other political structures in Montenegro and at the same time before the international factor".

The interlocutors also focused on the connectivity projects between Montenegro and Albania, as well as Kosovo. "In all the parts where Albanians live, we are implementing conceptual projects of fast highways that will connect Tuzi with Hani e Hoti, with Podgorica, that will connect Ulqin with Albania, Tivar and Podgorica", says Gjeloshaj. Another important project is the border point project, which is in the construction phase in the mother country, while two very important projects that connect Ulcinj with Velipoja and at the same time the other one to make Buna navigable, the budget forecasts have been made since this year .

While in relation to Kosovo, Gjeloshaj says that it is very important to complete the Plavë-Deçan road, which is very important for Albanians, for Kosovo, but also for Montenegro, for the development of the economy and the provision of funds from the European Union for the highway corridor connected to Europe that connects Andreovica with Peja./ CNA