The first visit of an Albanian prime minister to Serbia in 68 years was marked by a clash between the two heads of government over the status of Kosovo. Speaking to his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama yesterday said that Kosovo's independence is an "undeniable reality" that "must be respected." Rama further argued that Kosovo's secession helped stabilize the Balkans.

Rama's words upset Vucic, who replied him live by saying that the reference to Kosovo had been a provocation. Rama, Vucic argued, had breached the protocol by mentioning a topic that was not agreed upon. Serbia's Prime Minister revealed that, when he visits Tirana, he too will say that Kosovo is Serbia.

Later on, and speaking to B92, Rama said his words did not amount to supporting the project of Greater Albania. The Albanian Prime Minister reiterated that he only stated the "reality" of Kosovo's independence, and insisted that his government respects Serbia's territorial integrity. Without Kosovo, obviously.

Autonomy for Albanians in Presevo

The status of Albanians in Presevo -an ethnic Albanian-majority valley in southern Serbia- was another controversial issue that was yesterday raised by Rama. The Albanian Prime Minister said that the Albanian community there is in favor of Serbia's integration process to the EU. In exchange, Rama said, Belgrade should pay attention to the valley's situation. Specifically, Rama argued, the "model" that should be "followed in this regard is the one of the Serb minorities in Kosovo."

Rama refers to a 2013 Belgrade-Pristina deal for the creation of an autonomous region of Serbian municipalities in Kosovo. That autonomous region will enjoy several powers and its final status is currently being drafted. The coordinator of the team in charge of setting up the municipalities' autononous area, Ljubomir Maric, says the desired model is similar to that existing in South Tyrol, an autonomous province of the Italian Republic.

(Picture: Edi Rama / image by Alboholic.)