Albanian PM in historic visit to Belgrade
November 10, 2014
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama (pictured, left) arrived in Belgrade on Monday for what is meant to be a meeting that will help usher in a thaw in relations between the two bitter rivals.
Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic (pictured, right) welcomed Rama with state and military honors in front of the Palace of Serbia, which was decorated with the flags of the two nations.
Prior to arriving in Belgrade, Rama stressed the need for the two neighboring countries to try to move beyond the issues that divide them. Both states aspire to join the European Union at some point in the future.
"The times require a new, unified approach for a better future for our peoples," Rama said. "It is time to leave behind all that has not just hampered us in moving forward, but caused conflicts and bloodshed."
Vucic was expected to strike a similar tone.
The two countries' relations have been strained for decades, particularly over the fate of mainly ethnic Albanian Kosovo. Belgrade still claims Kosovo, which was a southern Serbian province until it unilaterally declared independence in 2008. Albania supported Kosovo's split with Belgrade, but Serbia has said that it will never recognize it as a separate state.
Despite this, Belgrade has pledge to normalize relations with Pristina as part of EU-mediated talks.
Drone incident
Tensions were raised again last month, when a drone swept into a Belgrade football stadium during a Euro 2016 qualifying soccer match between the two countries. The drone carried a flag of "greater Albania," and a scuffle broke out when one of the Serbian players pulled it down, triggering a pitch invasion which saw the Albanian players flee into their dressing room. The match had to be abandoned.
Rama had originally been scheduled to travel to Belgrade the following week, but postponed the visit over that incident.
pfd/se (dpa, AP, AFP)