A statement from Belgrade has brought to light a new diplomatic development between Albania and Serbia. Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric has claimed that the two countries have reached an agreement in principle to open consular offices in Shkodra and Bujanoc, while no public announcement from Tirana appears to have been made along the same lines.
The claim comes from Serbia’s foreign minister
According to the version made public by Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric, Serbia and Albania have agreed in principle to open consular offices in two cities: Shkodra and Bujanoc.
The statement was given to Radio Belgrade, where Djuric presented it as the result of communication with Albania’s new minister for Europe and foreign affairs, Ferit Hoxha.
Talks with Ferit Hoxha described as ‘constructive’
Djuric said he had held talks with Ferit Hoxha and described them as very constructive. In his statement, he said he was pleased with the contact with the head of Albanian diplomacy.
According to him, it was precisely in those talks that the agreement in principle was reached on opening consular offices in Shkodra and Bujanoc.
Still no public clarification from the Albanian side
At this stage, the information has been publicly presented by the Serbian side. No parallel public position has been made known by Albanian institutions to confirm the content, timeline or format of this agreement in principle.
This leaves open several questions about the concrete nature of the announced step, including the diplomatic status of the offices, the functions they would have and the procedures expected to be followed.
If this initiative is also confirmed by official Tirana, the opening of consular offices in Shkodra and Bujanoc would represent a new development in relations between the two countries.
For the moment, what is publicly known remains the statement by the Serbian minister and his wording of an agreement ‘in principle’ with Albania.