Kosovo, Albania prime ministers continue trading barbs

Gazeta Express

24/01/2020 14:56

Outgoing Kosovo prime minister Ramush Haradinaj and his Albanian counterpart Edi Rama continue to exchange blows at every opportunity over the proposal on partition of Kosovo.

Haradinaj appearing in a TV studio in Tirana on Thursday reiterated that Rama was supportive to the “land swap” proposal which as he said was only euphemism on giving northern Kosovo to Serbia in exchange of a promised recognition. he said the idea was initiated by presidents Hashim Thaci of Kosovo and Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia and was “passionaley ” supported by Rama. Speaking to Top Channel TV Haradinaj said Rama has “passionately” promoted the idea of partition into diplomatic circles and even he did that at Haradinaj’s presence.

Rama filed a defamation lawsuit in a Kosovo court last week against Haradinaj claiming that he has never worked against Kosovo’s back or supported the idea. Rama answered Kosovo PM said Haradinaj saying that he “keeps using defamation as a weapon since abandoning rifle from his hands,” a referrence to Haradinaj’s past as freedom fighter and senior commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) which fought against Serbian state in 1998-1999 war. Rama reiterated that he was left no other choice but to address Kosovo courts to solve the dispute. According to Albanian PM Rama, his outgoing Kosovo counterpart is trying to manipulate public opinion with the fabricated statements. Rama went further saying that Haradinaj’s policy has damaged Kosovo’s reputation and gave Serbia an advantage in international relations. “It is desperate to see Ramush’s dead-end policy which has badly damaged Kosovo in the eyes of its international friends and giving Serbia a continuous advantage internationally in relation with Kosovo,” Rama told Tirana based broadcaster Top Channel. /GazetaExpress/

Haradinaj said that Rama has “passionately” promoted the idea into diplomatic levels and even at his presence. Rama filed a defamation lawsuit in a Kosovo court last week against Haradinaj claiming that he has never worked on this proposal. Rama answered Kosovo PM said Haradinaj “keeps using defamation as a weapon since he abandoned rifle,” referring to Haradinaj’s past as freedom fighter and senior commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Rama reiterated that he was left no other options but to address Kosovo courts to solve the dispute. According to Albanian PM Rama, his outgoing Kosovo counterpart is trying to manipulate public opinion with the fabricated statements. Rama went further saying that Haradinaj’s policy has damaged Kosovo’s reputation and gave Serbia an advantage in international relations. “It is desperate to see Ramush’s dead-end policy which has badly damaged Kosovo in the eyes of its international friends and giving Serbia a continuous advantage internationally in relation with Kosovo,” Rama told Tirana based broadcaster Top Channel. /GazetaExpress/