UNMIK/PR/1596
PRISTINA – As part of his introductory visits to the region, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo (SRSG) Joachim Rücker today visited Tirana, where he met the President of Albania Alfred Moisiu and Prime Minister Sali Berisha. The SRSG also had meetings with Foreign Minister Besnik Mustafaj and leaders of the opposition Socialist Party of Albania Mr. Edi Rama and Mr. Pandeli Majko.
The SRSG, together with Kosovo Minister of Energy and Mining Et’hem Ceku, signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Albanian Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy Genc Ruli. The MoUs relate to cooperation between Kosovo and Albania in the field of Energy and the construction of a new 400 kV Interconnection Line between Kosovo and Albania.
Addressing the media in Tirana, the SRSG emphasized the excellent bilateral cooperation between Kosovo and Albania “as evidenced by the MoUs on energy cooperation signed today and many other cooperation agreements already existing between Kosovo and Albania.”
“Apart from the excellent bilateral relations it has with Kosovo, Albania is also playing a very constructive role in the region at this critical time of the status process,” the SRSG said and stressed that solving this last piece of the Balkans puzzle is also very important for regional stability.
“I think that Albania in many ways stands as a regional model of a stable, democratic and multi-ethnic society,” Mr. Rücker added.
The SRSG took note of the views of his interlocutors for an early settlement of Kosovo’s status. He said: “Status is coming, but it is essential for Standards implementation to continue, for the PISG to prepare for post-status Kosovo and for the Unity Team to maintain the unity.”
Asked about the economic benefit of status determination, Mr. Rücker said: “Status will indeed remove several hurdles to economic development, such as by allowing Kosovo full access to international financial institutions. But as far as international investments in Kosovo are concerned, Kosovo already has a very good legal and institutional basis for investment. The investment climate is good and there is full protection for investment in Kosovo.”