Kosovo opposition leader calls for renewed engagement with Albania

Memli Krasniqi, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), expressed his thoughts on Facebook, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation. While he welcomed the upcoming joint meeting between the governments of Kosovo and North Macedonia, he stressed that Prime Minister Albin Kurti should first prioritize restoring regular meetings with Albania.

Why is this important: Krasniqi leads one of Kosovo’s main opposition parties, PDK, which was founded by members of the former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The party’s previous leaders, including former President Hashim Thaçi, had strong and collaborative ties with Albania. Krasniqi argues that these ties have weakened under Kurti’s leadership, impacting broader efforts for unity and collaboration on common challenges.

What did he say: Krasniqi emphasized that regular meetings between the Kosovo and Albania governments are crucial. “Kosovo must return to the good tradition of meetings with Albania,” he wrote, stressing that such engagements are essential for addressing shared challenges and strengthening inter-Albanian cultural, economic, and political connections.

As for the North Macedonia meeting Krasniqi outlined two major concerns he believes should be prioritized:

1. Veterans’ safety: He condemned the continued persecution and arrest of Kosovo Liberation Army veterans in North Macedonia, calling these actions unacceptable and damaging to inter-state relations. He urged the Kosovo government to push for guarantees that such incidents will not happen again.
   • He noted that KLA veterans feel unsafe crossing the border with North Macedonia due to Serbia’s international arrest warrants, which are sometimes enforced by North Macedonian authorities.
2. Rights of Albanians in North Macedonia: He called for strong protection of Albanian rights, specifically the use of the Albanian language. He urged Kosovo’s leaders and Albanian politicians in North Macedonia’s government to ensure these rights are upheld, warning that any attempts to undermine them must be firmly opposed.

What’s next: Krasniqi cautioned that if these urgent issues remain unresolved, the broader agenda of the meeting risks being overshadowed by unresolved frustrations within the Albanian community in North Macedonia. He emphasized the need for sincere and proactive cooperation, warning against meetings that serve as mere political spectacles without meaningful substance.

Context: The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) was founded by former KLA members and has historically maintained close relations with Albania, especially under the leadership of Hashim Thaçi. The last joint meeting between the Kosovo and North Macedonian governments occurred on September 16, 2021, under Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. The upcoming meeting on Monday will feature a different government, now led by Hristijan Mickoski.

In preparation for this meeting, Prime Minister Albin Kurti visited North Macedonia on August 5, where he met Mickoski and held a joint press conference. Kurti’s government had previously supported the “VLEN” coalition in North Macedonia’s parliamentary elections on May 8.