The Prime Ministers of Serbia and Albania, Ana Brnabić and Edi Rama, assessed today at a conference in Morocco that the Western Balkans, despite the challenges, must devote themselves to building good relations and progress, and that without stability in the region there is no stability in the EU either, but they added that Kosovo remains a point of disagreement between Albania and Serbia.
Kosovo and unilaterally declared independence, which Serbia does not recognize, remains a point of disagreement between Serbia and Albania, it was stated in the announcement of the Government of Serbia, which added that Brnabić and Rama agreed that there are still many topics on which there is agreement and cooperation.
At the first plenary session of the World Policy Conference (WPC), which will last until November 5 in Marrakesh, Brnabić and Rama spoke with the founder and chairman of the Conference, Thierry de Montbrille, about the challenges facing the Western Balkans and Southeastern Europe and the common future in EU.
"The region of the Western Balkans, despite the political, economic and social challenges it faces, must devote itself to building good relations, stability and progress", concluded the Prime Ministers of Serbia and Albania, it was stated in the announcement.
The two agreed that it is necessary to continue and deepen cooperation based on common interests and goals regarding the European future of the region.
"Serbia is strongly committed to regional cooperation and economic integration, because the economy is the key driver of all integrative processes and further development of all countries in the region," said Ana Brnabić.
The announcement stated that the panel emphasized that the path of cooperation and reconciliation, which was initiated after more than six decades by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Edi Rama, is an example of responsible politics and positive changes.
"Although we do not agree on the issue of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, we are doing our best so that it does not affect the constructiveness of our relations and the dialogue we have established," Brnabić said at the panel.
Brnabić said that Serbia "has always strongly advocated that international law and standards must be respected in international politics".
"We have always said that 'Pandora's box' will open if unilaterally declared independence is accepted. International law is there to ensure a more stable, predictable and secure world order and certainly a more stable and secure Europe," she said.
She added that Serbia will always take care of the quality of life of all citizens and their safety first, and that is exactly why an open dialogue with Pristina is being conducted.
The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, praised the efforts of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and the responsible policy of dialogue that he initiated and added that it is good that the Government led by Ana Brnabić continued that policy and that friendly relations between the two countries are being nurtured.
Speaking about Serbia's foreign policy priorities, the prime minister emphasized that "membership in the EU is Serbia's key foreign policy goal", and added that the reforms implemented by Serbia on the way to the EU "should show not only commitment to the European path, but above all to improve the quality of life of all citizens".
"As much as the region needs the EU, the Western Balkans region needs Europe as much, because without a stable region, there is no stability in the European Union," Brnabić concluded at the end of the panel.
More than 10 high-ranking world officials from all continents are participating in the 120th Conference on World Politics.
Bonus video:
