Gjakova, 27 November, 2023
On the eve of the grand celebration of our national flag, one day before November 28, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated in the Kosovo-Albania Regional Development Forum on the topic ‘Opportunities for Kosovo-Albania Regional Cooperation.’ The event was organized by the Ministry of Regional Development and was held at the Palace of Culture in the municipality of Gjakova.
In his introductory speech, Prime Minister Kurti described the fact that this conference is being held in Gjakova, and exactly one day before November 28, the date of the coronation of the Albanian statehood, as very significant.
“The entire cooperation between our two states should be guided by the idea of facilitating the lives of citizens, even to the extent of feeling as if living in the same place, sharing the same values, under the same laws and regulations, without obstacles or changes that hinder or slow down their daily communication and activities,” said the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Kurti, during his participation in this Forum, presented the achievements over these two and a half years between the two governments of the Republic of Kosovo and Albania. He highlighted that they have reached and implemented 58 new agreements, which represent nearly one-third of all agreements, at a pace nearly four times faster than in previous years, out of a total of 184 agreements that existed. He also added that the achieved and ongoing agreements correct the isolating past and open new possibilities and opportunities for entrepreneurs, students, citizens as both producers and consumers.
Among the agreements, he emphasized the one regarding the railway connection between Prishtina and Durrës, which he considered a major agreement and project.
He announced that the Government of the Republic of Kosovo is infrastructure meant to assist you, and there is no better date than the November holidays, specifically the upcoming November 28, to assess achievements while remembering those who sacrificed for their country.
During this event, he stated that facilitating trade, removing trade barriers, and promoting the free movement of citizens are significant steps towards common economic integration. Cognizant of this, he singled out the establishment of two customs offices of the Republic of Kosovo in Durrës and Porto-Romano, which have facilitated Kosovo’s access to the sea.
“At these customs offices, the clearance of all goods destined for Kosovo takes place, directly aiding businesses that have already saved 9 million euros. And based on the latest notes, 30 percent of the goods arriving in Durrës are destined for Kosovo,” stated the Prime Minister, before adding that investments from Albania to Kosovo in 2022 reached nearly 80 million, up from over 15 million in 2019, while discussing the results of cooperation between the two republics.
At the conclusion of his address, he extended his congratulations to all, wishing them a Happy November 28.
Present alongside the Prime Minister at this Forum were the Minister of Regional Development, Fikrim Damka, the Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports, Hajrulla Çeku, the advisor from the Embassy of Albania, Pranvera Teli, as well as the Deputy Ministers Ali Tafarshiku from the Ministry of Regional Development, and Agron Dobruna from the Ministry of Finance, Labor, and Transfers.
Prime Minister Kurti’s full speech:
Honorable Mr. Fikrim Damka, Minister of Regional Development,
Honorable Mr. Hajrulla Çeku, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports
Honorable, Ms. Pranvera Teli, Minister, Counselor from the Embassy of the Republic of Albania,
Honorable Mr. Ali Tafarshiku, Deputy Minister of Regional Development,
Honorable Mr. Agron Dobruna, Deputy Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers,
Honorable mayors of municipalities from Kosovo and Albania, from Hasi and Tropoja, from Klina,
Ladies and gentleman,
Honorable attendees,
The significance lies in the fact that this conference is being held in Gjakova, and exactly one day before November 28, the date of the coronation of the Albanian statehood.
States should serve their citizens and people with the same dedication, devotion, and sacrifice that the people displayed in establishing the state.
The entire cooperation between our two states should be guided by the idea of facilitating the lives of citizens, even to the extent of feeling as if living in the same place, sharing the same values, under the same laws and regulations, without obstacles or changes that hinder or slow down their daily communication and activities.
The majority of citizens should feel that just as language translation is unnecessary, so should be the needless interpretation and meaningful understanding of rules and laws that govern the normal relations between the citizens of our two countries.
When free will exists, good success is guaranteed. Out of a total of 184 agreements, only during these two and a half years between the two governments of our two republics, 58 new agreements have been reached and implemented, nearly one-third of all agreements, at a pace nearly four times faster than in previous years.
Success holds value when instead of self-satisfaction, it fosters self-confidence for further successes. In our journey towards success, we are neither alone nor on unbeaten paths. This is the path paved by today’s European Union and the former European Common Market. Hence, it is imperative that we expedite our progress towards our unified market, shared systems and mechanisms, customs union, and any integration initiatives that facilitate and prepare us for deeper integration into the European Union.
Throughout history, on one hand, economic, social, and ethnographic zones have naturally formed, influenced both by our history and our broader environment. Among others, these include Peja with Plav and Gusinje, Gjakova with its surrounding highlands, Prizren with Kukës on one side, and Tetovo on the other, Ohrid with Pogradec, Manastir with Korça, and so forth.
The achieved and ongoing agreements correct the isolating past and open new possibilities and opportunities for entrepreneurs, for students, and for citizens both as producers and consumers.
For the revitalization of these areas, enabling centuries-old roadways for unhindered passage, alongside facilitating border crossings, an additional 26 crossings have been opened for the local residents of these regions, serving their common and daily lives. Through this, we have enabled the free movement and circulation of over 200,000 citizens within our common border region.
Through the implementation of the signed agreements for residents of border areas, facilitations are applied at customs points for cargo shipments, products from family economies, and so forth.
However, considering several encountered challenges on the ground, there is still work to be done to further promote and ensure the full applicability of these facilitations. Starting with raising awareness among all stakeholders involved, beginning from state institutions, and further engaging the residents of border areas as direct beneficiaries of the bilateral cooperation.
All agreements regarding our internal integration have taken into account our connections with other states in the region, with the European Union, and beyond. The agreements have considered the activation of what history and geography have already bestowed upon us. In addition to agreements for the coordinated use of energy between our two countries, another significant agreement is the railway connection between Prishtina and Durrës, linking Durrës to Prishtina. Thus, both energies and trains unite, symbolizing industrialization and the development of the modern world. Railways have been and remain both a demand and a condition for industrial development, simultaneously being, compared to others, the most eco-friendly mode of human transportation, or as it is termed today, the green circulation, not only for passengers but also for mass consumption products and goods. With its branches, this railway line not only connects our two countries but also facilitates connections with Montenegro, Italy, the Adriatic, the Mediterranean, and beyond. Similarly, the Prizren-Tetovo route not only revives and puts into operation the natural connection between these two cities but also connects Kosovo with North Macedonia and further beyond.
Meanwhile, the Shkodër – Gjakova road consistently connects these two regions, and the connection between Shkodër and Gjakova undoubtedly represents the most important link that corrects a significant political and economic injustice between these two countries, as well as the surrounding regions, I would say, for the entire Albanian nation.
There is no more critical connection for the Albanian nation that is as necessary from an infrastructural and economic perspective than, on one hand, the Prishtina – Durrës railway. However, within and beyond this, the connection between Gjakova and Shkodër holds equal importance.
Facilitating trade, by removing trade barriers, and promoting the free movement of citizens are significant steps towards common economic integration.
With two customs offices of the Republic of Kosovo in Durrës and Porto-Romano, we have gained access to the sea. At these customs offices, the clearance of all goods destined for Kosovo takes place, directly aiding businesses that have already saved 9 million euros. Based on recent notes, 30 percent of the goods arriving in Durrës are destined for Kosovo.
Investments from Albania to Kosovo have significantly increased from the year 2019 to 2022. Expressed in values, they were 15.2 million euros in 2019, whereas in 2022, they reached a figure of 79.7 million euros.
The unrestricted movement of our citizens during the summer season from June to September, as well as during weekends and national holidays, is another significant success of our cooperation.
This facilitation of movement has helped boost tourism and has resulted in an increase in crossings at the common border crossing point of Morinë – Vërmicë.
Therefore, in 2022 alone, approximately 8.2 million citizens crossed at the common border crossing point of Morinë – Vërmicë, making it the most frequented border crossing point for both Kosovo and Albania. So, our main border crossing is with each other. This shows how important and valuable we are to each other.
Besides the physical dimension, the spiritual dimension is no less important, often arriving effortlessly and unconsciously. Practically and in their daily routines, citizens expand their geographical imagination where they feel at home. They broaden the geography where they can pursue their current projects and plans for their future, whether as students or learners, as producers or traders, as artisans or experts, whether it’s private family affairs or public cultural activities. Hence, it is the duty of the state, of both our republics, to alleviate obstacles to the creative imagination of our citizens, eventually allowing this force to perform its work, not only in economic and national cultural aspects but also aesthetically.
Finally, I would like to emphasize that integration into the European Union serves us better by integrating together. We can adopt many practices from European Union countries, making Kosovo with Albania and Albania with Kosovo, as our internal national and state value, rather than waiting to integrate externally into the European Union through the European Union. These are already proven models that can be directly applied by us here. Every unity of ours is not only progress towards integration into the European Union but also evidence that finds us ready for it, evidence that integration is not a beginning but already a joint effort advanced by everyone, each on both sides of the border, between the two republics of the Albanian nation.
Thank you very much. I congratulate you for the organization you have made and for the fruitful discussions. The Government of the Republic of Kosovo is a structure to assist you, and there is no better date than the November holidays, especially November 28, when we have both leisure and celebration, to assess our achievements and remember those who sacrificed. At the same time, let us pledge together that November 28 unites us not only in the past and present but, like never before, precisely in our common future.
Congratulations to all on November 28, and let the celebrations begin!
Last modified: December 1, 2023