Four Presidents Push for Mini Schengen Zone in Balkans

The four leaders met in Prizren this weekend for their third such gathering after earlier meetings in Vlore, Albania and Ohrid, Macedonia.

The event was hosted by Kosovo’s President Fatmir Sejdiu and included Albanian President Bamir Topi, Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov and Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic. The two-day gathering was held in Prevalle Mountain, some 30 kilometres from Prizren.

The presidents first met bilaterally to discuss common issues and interests and then held a joint meeting.

The four leaders claimed that it is in the region’s interest to allow the free movement of people and goods, and pushed for the creation of a mini Schengen zone in the Western Balkans.

At the same time, the leaders sent a message to the Schengen zone countries that the region aspires for further integration into the EU and that all the countries in the Balkans should be included in the visa liberalisation process.

President Sejdiu said that the practical realisation of the creation of a mini Schengen zone is entering the final stage.

“There are many values that we share and it is important that we have common friends and partners,” Sejdiu said.

Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic offered an example as to how countries in the region could cooperate in order to ease formalities at border crossings.

“Montenegro and Albania have a joint customs at the border crossing between Ulcinj and Shkoder in order for people to move across the border faster,” Vujanovic told journalists.

Albania’s President Bamir Topi said that the dialogue between the participating countries is now stronger and reiterated his support for the free movement of people and goods in the region.

“We have seen the strengthening of dialogue between our countries and we want also to build economic projects,” Topi said at the press conference.

The Albanian leader said that Macedonia and Montenegro have been granted visa free travel within Europe and that Albania will soon have the same status, while voicing his belief that the free movement of people should not be far in the future for Kosovo.

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov addressed relations with Kosovo, saying that many things have changed from the last meeting one year ago. He added that there are clear signs of improvement in diplomatic relations between Macedonia and Kosovo.

“We have closed the issue of border demarcation and established diplomatic ties with Kosovo. We have exchanged ambassadors, and we have signed some seven documents and there five other documents to be signed,” Ivanov said.

The presidents said they wished to send a message to other regional leaders that the future of the Western Balkans depends on cooperation between countries, and the men addressed the participation of the presidents of other states in the region at such meetings.

President Sejdiu said that the gatherings were a good model of cooperation between the countries in the region.

“It is a practical approach that we hope to expand with the inclusion of other regional countries, including Serbia.”

Leaders stress importance of dialogue between countries in the region

Albania's Topi said that his country encourages dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia but only if the country's sovereign status is respected.

He added that it is the will of each country to decide what kind of communication they want to engage in.

“It is unacceptable to take part in underground diplomacy and lobby for Kosovo to be left out of regional meetings as was the case recently for the meeting of Southeast European countries,” Topi said.

President Vujanovic said that dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia should begin while respecting the sovereignty of the independent countries.

“Montenegro in particular is sensitive to the respect for sovereign rights. We became independent to be able to take our fate into our hands,” Vujanovic said.

The Macedonian president echoed the importance of dialogue.

“We would be happy to see [Serbian President] Tadic and [Greek President] Papoulias at the next regional meeting,” Ivanov said.

Ivanov invited the presidents to hold the next regional meeting in Ohrid, Macedonia next year.