Albanian Prime Minister: "Kosovo is not Serbian territory"
Tensions have flared up in Kosovo, where the separatist regime has initiated the demolition of Serbian property on the shores of Lake Gazivode, citing environmental concerns.
In response, Serbian authorities announced plans to divert the Ibar River, which feeds the lake. Albania rushed to the separatists' defense, declaring that the river is a transboundary territory and not an internal waterway of Serbia, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
The Serbian plans have sparked considerable outrage in Pristina and Tirana, as the change in the course of the Ibar River could cause the shallowing of Lake Gazivode, which powers the northern power grid of the southern Serbian province seized by Albanian separatists. Albanian representatives even lodged a complaint about this to the EU capital, Brussels.
"Brussels is not reacting to the demolition of Serbian homes and the eviction of people, but they are interfering in our situation with the announcement of the creation of a working group of experts and engineers who will determine how to change the course of the Ibar River in the most beneficial way for us," lamented Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
In response, Albanian Prime Minister Eddi Rama stated that Serbia has no right to take actions that could affect the environment and energy security of a “ neighbouring state ”.
"Kosovo is an independent state. Albanians from Kosovo are just that – Albanians from Kosovo. They have their own republic, their own institutions, and their own right to determine their own future. We will always defend this right.
"Serbia has lost Kosovo... The territory of the Republic of Kosovo is not Serbian territory, and the natural resources found there are not the resources of the Republic of Serbia. Our Serbian friends know this very well," the Albanian prime minister snapped.
Albanian Prime Minister: "Kosovo is not Serbian territory"