Albanian Telegraphic Agency: Tanjug-ATA, international conference on relations between Albanians and Serbs

TIRANA, July 10 /ATA/ - The bilateral relations and cooperation between Albanians and Serbs were the focus of the international conference titled 'Serbs and Albanians - Which Way Further?' jointly organised by Serbia's Tanjug news agency and the Albanian ATA news agency in Belgrade on Tuesday.

'Good relations and cooperation between Albania and Serbia have a positive impact on the entire region,' said MEP Eduard Kukan, who attended the conference.

Kukan underlined that the event was a timely one and that the result could make a positive contribution to the entire region.

'If there are problems in the relations between Serbia and Albania, then there are wider problems in the region,' he added.

To Serbia's Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, 'the relations between Serbs and Albanians are burdened by the Kosovo issue and that is why it is a difficult topic that calls for the most rational actions possible, and permanent solutions must be sought to put an end to the conflict between Serbs and Albanians.'

'It is important to eliminate the cause of the problems in the relationship between Serbs and Albanians. The relations between Serbs and Albanians are important for the region as well as for the EU,' Dacic said at the conference, organised by Tanjug and the Albanian ATA news agency.

Let's eliminate problems and be together, he said, adding: 'All of us in the region are brothers and sisters and we must not allow outsiders to start disputes amongst us.'

For the Director General of the Albanian Telegraphic Agency, Armela Krasniqi, the conference co-organizer, 'the media can play a vital role in breaking the barriers and prejudices between the Serbs and the Albanians.'

'Eventually, our future should be one without barriers, be they in economy, politics or culture. The future of Albania and Serbia should lie with the common regional market, where all our citizens can move freely within a European space,' Krasniqi said in her remarks.

On her part, the Director of the Serbian state news agency Tanjug, Branka Djukic, said:  'We are on the right path if we are to be honest, show mutual respect we talk about the relationship of the two largest nations in the Western Balkans to overcome conflicting interests and build mutual misunderstanding.'

The relations between Albania and Serbia, the historical, political and international circumstances generating those relations today were discussed by experts and panellists participating in the conference.

Source: Albanian Telegraphic Agency