Spain reiterates support for Albania’s EU membership

TIRANA, Albania

Spain on Monday reiterated its support for Albania’s membership in European Union.

The EU is a community of values and principles, and all can become part of it, said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez during a joint press conference along with his Albanian counterpart Edi Rama in the capital Tirana.

He, however, added that the Balkan country has a long way to go before being a part of the bloc.

The reforms that you will undertake in the course would also help improve the life of Albanians, Sanchez noted.

Rama, for his part, referred to the latest escalation of tension between Kosovo and Serbia, maintaining that the Russian influence could lead to a war in the Balkans.

Rama, hence, argued that confidence-building steps should be taken between Balkan countries to avoid a war.

Reminding that Spain, like some other EU countries, did not recognize Kosovo, he said this state of affairs is an obstacle to Kosovo’s EU and NATO memberships, which is critical for peace and stability in the region.

Sanchez, nevertheless, claimed that Kosovo’s independence contradicted international law.

Even good friends like Spain and Albania are allowed to have disagreements, he said.

* Written and contributed by Ahmet Gencturk in Ankara​​​​​​​