Albanian PM denies expansionist ambitions

Albanian PM denies expansionist ambitions

BELGRADE -- "Our project is a Greater Europe with Serbia and Albania. A Greater Albania is an obsolete myth that has nothing to do with us," Albanian PM Edi Rama has said.

In a statement for B92 TV, he added that there was no proof that a policy was being advocated in favor of this expansionist project that would include parts of Albania's neighboring countries.

"Show me at least one proof of that in my career or in the career of any Albanian politician that would support they stood for a Greater Albania."

The Albanian prime minister also said he was surprised that someone in Serbia could be provoked by his position that Kosovo was independent. Ethnic Albanians in this Serbian province in 2008 unilaterally declared independence, which Serbia rejected as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"I find it fascinating that this can provoke you," he revealed, and added, "It is not something I dreamed up. It is the reality. Many countries that Serbia cooperates with recognized Kosovo as an independent state."

When he called on Serbia to do the same during a news conference on Monday with his host, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, the latter reacted by saying it was a provocation and a breach of protocol, and said Serbia considered Kosovo a part of its territory.

In his statement for B92, Rama reiterated that this was "the reality that Serbia should recognize."

He then said that he was "convinced that Albania and Serbia can open a new chapter in mutual relations," and that this was the reason he traveled to Serbia as first Albanian prime minister in 68 years.

"Clearly we don't have to agree about...