TIRANA, August 11 – Albanian Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha responded on Tuesday to Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Duric’s statement on the Ibër River. Hoxha stressed the need for dialogue, trust and practical cooperation in the region.
Hoxha welcomed the calmer tone of Duric’s closing message. He said the region’s future should rely on dialogue and practical cooperation rather than threats and accusations. In a post on X, Hoxha said this approach should guide the discussion over water.
Hoxha also argued that water should not become an instrument of pressure or punishment. He said water is a shared resource that does not follow political borders. He added that Albania would speak out if someone threatened to cut Serbia’s water supply within its own territory. Hoxha said such a threat would affect peaceful coexistence in the region, even if the water did not reach Albania.
Meanwhile, Hoxha said good-neighbourly relations require countries to take an interest in issues that can affect regional stability. He argued that neighbours should address such issues before they develop into problems that directly affect national interests. He also called for a distinction between jurisdiction and shared responsibility for regional peace.
Hoxha then turned to the region’s European perspective. He said Albania remains interested in a larger European Union that includes Kosova, Serbia, Albania and the rest of the region. He also said Albania remains open to practical cooperation between Albanians and Serbs.
Finally, Hoxha called for more Europe, less mythology and a greater focus on the future when assessing the region’s past. He concluded by calling for water to remain available for peaceful use and for the productive lands of the region’s shared neighbourhood.
/a.p./
The post Foreign Minister Hoxha responds to Serbian counterpart: Region’s future should be built through dialogue appeared first on RTSH English.
