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Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has rejected the invitation of the host of this meeting, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, citing some of the reasons why Kosovo should not be present at the meeting.
“Serbia has committed genocide against the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo and today not only denies the crimes committed but continues to deny the existence of our state. In such a situation, the calls and initiatives for regional cooperation are completely meaningless. Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina do not recognize the state of Kosovo”.
The meeting follows two previous meetings of this level held in Novi Sad, Serbia, and in Ohrid, North Macedonia, attended by leaders and senior state representatives of the Western Balkan countries, as well as senior representatives of European institutions. Kosovo has refused to participate in the two previous meetings.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Rama declared that the next round table for the Balkan Schengen project is part of a process where besides the dream there is a concrete well-planned work plan. The head of the Albanian government underlined that the non-participation of Kosovo in this round table, which is accepted by the USA and Europe, causes loss to Kosovo politics in the eyes of the American brothers.
"We had agreed that we would do this Summit in Durrës and the concert coincides with one day before the Summit, where there will be not only the President of Serbia and North Macedonia but others also. Will come Palmer from US, has asked me for two official invitations, because he will send two special persons from the State Department to support this process,” Rama said.
“Vucic has been scandalous in his statements about Kacak, I said it out loud. This was indeed a symptom of the fact that Serbia is not completely detached from its past. Second, I love peace, and I do not love regional Schengen, and I do not want the historic transformation to give Serbia any honor or do good for Serbia. I want good things for Albania, Kosovo and for the Albanians," he said.