Albania–Kosovo relations
Encyclopedia
Albanian–Kosovan relations are foreign relations between Albania
and the Republic of Kosovo
. When Kosovo
declared its independence
from Serbia
on 17 February 2008, Albania became one of the first countries to officially announce its recognition of the sovereign Republic of Kosovo, which is recognised as independent from Serbia by about a third of the international community. Also, Albania was the only country which recognized the Republic of Kosova
in 1990. Albania has an embassy in Pristina
and the Republic of Kosovo has an embassy in Tirana
. There are two million Albanians
living in Kosovo (93% of Kosovo's population) and Albanian
is the official language
of Kosovo.
On 18 August, 2009, Prime Minister Sali Berisha of Albania said that "There should be no customs administration between the two countries. We should by no means allow Albania and Kosovo to view each other as foreign countries" (possibly hinting at possible unification), provoking an outrage in Serbia. The Albanian Foreign Ministry in a clarification note to Serbia said: "Albania considers the independent state of Kosova as a factor of peace and stability in the Balkan region, whereas its independence is considered as a clear step serving people, stability and European perspective of the region". The Albanian Foreign Ministry also said that the foreign policy of the Republic of Albania" is based on common objectives of Euro-Atlantic integration of the country, Republic of Kosova and entire region".
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
and the Republic of Kosovo
Republic of Kosovo
Kosovo , officially the Republic of Kosovo is a partially recognised state and a disputed territory in the Balkans...
. When Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
declared its independence
2008 Kosovo declaration of independence
The 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence was adopted on 17 February 2008 by individual members of the Assembly of Kosovo acting in personal capacity and not binding to the Assembly itself...
from Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
on 17 February 2008, Albania became one of the first countries to officially announce its recognition of the sovereign Republic of Kosovo, which is recognised as independent from Serbia by about a third of the international community. Also, Albania was the only country which recognized the Republic of Kosova
Republic of Kosova
The Republic of Kosova was an secessionist state proclaimed in 1991 by a parallel parliament representing the Albanian population of Kosovo, recognized only by the Republic of Albania...
in 1990. Albania has an embassy in Pristina
Pristina
Pristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district....
and the Republic of Kosovo has an embassy in Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
. There are two million Albanians
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
living in Kosovo (93% of Kosovo's population) and Albanian
Albanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
is the official language
Official language
An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in a particular country, state, or other jurisdiction. Typically a nation's official language will be the one used in that nation's courts, parliament and administration. However, official status can also be used to give a...
of Kosovo.
On 18 August, 2009, Prime Minister Sali Berisha of Albania said that "There should be no customs administration between the two countries. We should by no means allow Albania and Kosovo to view each other as foreign countries" (possibly hinting at possible unification), provoking an outrage in Serbia. The Albanian Foreign Ministry in a clarification note to Serbia said: "Albania considers the independent state of Kosova as a factor of peace and stability in the Balkan region, whereas its independence is considered as a clear step serving people, stability and European perspective of the region". The Albanian Foreign Ministry also said that the foreign policy of the Republic of Albania" is based on common objectives of Euro-Atlantic integration of the country, Republic of Kosova and entire region".
See also
- Foreign relations of AlbaniaForeign relations of AlbaniaAlbanian foreign policy has concentrated on maintaining good relations with its Balkan neighbours, gaining access to European-Atlantic security institutions, and securing close ties with the United States....
- Foreign relations of KosovoForeign relations of KosovoOn 17 February 2008, the Assembly of Kosovo, a body of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government under the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo , declared independence from Serbia. This move was controversial among the international community...
- Albanians in KosovoAlbanians in KosovoAlbanians are the largest ethnic group in Kosovo . According to the 1991 Serbian census, boycotted by Albanians, there were 1,596,072 ethnic Albanians in Kosovo or 81.6% of population...