Meeting of Prime Ministers of Albania, Montenegro and Macedonia in Durres

Southern Neighbours Support Montenegro

AIM Tirana, July 16, 2000

While in the latest straining of relations between Montenegro and Serbia caused by arbitrary Constitutional amendments passed by Belgrade countries of the West hurried to criticise Milosevic but remained reserved in expressing support to Podgorica, one can say that very open support to it arrived from its two southern neighbours – Albania and Macedonia. Two days after Montenegrin parliament passed the Resolution with which it rejected the amendments of the federal Constitution introduced by Milosevic's regime, prime minister of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic disembarked in Durres in order to attend the summit meeting of prime ministers of Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia on July 10. This was their second meeting after the one they had in Ohrid last January, but the meeting in Durres is believed to have major significance because of the time it was held in and the situation Montenegro is in.

It is understandable that Montenegrin prime minister, faced with intensifying threats coming from Belgrade, had come to the meeting in Durres primarily in order to get not only political support from the two states which are not only neighbours but also very significant for Montenegro in case of the worst possible denouement. In talks with his colleagues, Montenegrin prime minister stated that by starting a new war Milosevic would endanger stability of the whole region, Albania and Macedonia inclusive. This is most certainly also felt by neighbours of Montenegro who without hesitation at the meeting in Durres supported Montenegrin pro-Western government. The host, prime minister Ilir Meta underlined that at the meeting in Durres disapproval was expressed of the latest act of Belgrade which changed the Constitution and that this meeting was an expression of the greatest support to democracy in Montenegro, its government and president Djukanovic.

Very satisfied with this valuable support, Vujanovic proved to be cautious and stressed that Montenegrin government will continue with the policy of patience although faced with increasing threats from Belgrade. At the meeting in Durres he was treated like a prime minister of a state and in the joint declaration signed by all three prime ministers after termination of the talks no “federal” reference is mentioned in description of Montenegro which is a qualification that is not insignificant but which in fact does not exist in any statement from multilateral Balkan meetings. One might say that in recent history of diplomatic relations in the Balkans, this special status of Montenegro is sanctioned by the meetings of three prime ministers held this year, the first in Ohrid, the second in Durres and the third which as decided will be held in Podgorica.

The situation in Montenegro has caused increased support to specific projects which the three states conceived together, not only for their quick implementation but also in order to help Montenegro consolidate its status as an active participant of the Stability Pact which the stand of Albania and Macedonia greatly contributed to. Albania was especially active in carrying out of projects within the Stability Pact which include Montenegro as a separate unit.

For instance, it was decided to accelerate the construction of high-voltage transmission line which connects Albanian town of Elbasan with Montenegrin capital. Albanian government provided financing of the first phase of this project from German government amounting to 10 million German marks.

It was also decided to work on projects for the quickest possible reconstruction of the existing railway line between Albania and Montenegro. A few days ago special interest for this railway line was shown by NATO which sent a team of engineers and experts to consider on site the possibilities of its accelerated reconstruction.

Albania has at the same time enabled Montenegro to become independent of Belgrade in the sphere of telecommunications by means of an optic cable linking Podgorica with Shkoder which was put into operation in the month of May by two prime ministers, Meta and Vujanovic, on the occasion of their meeting in Shkoder.

A special element of the meeting in Durres was the support offered to the functioning of the corridor for transportation which connects Montenegro with Macedonia via Kosovo. Montenegrin prime minister characterised this corridor as a significant condition of cooperation and expressing support of Albania and Macedonia, he expressed hope that this kind of cooperation would get full support of the international community. In this respect, the role of UNMIK and KFOR in Kosovo was highly esteemed in ensuring operation of this corridor.

Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro are the three points of transit of illegal trade from the Balkans towards the states of EU. Having assessed this as a threat to safety, stability and their economic revival, prime ministers of the three states decided that coordination be improved among their state agencies in their joint tripartite struggle for creation of a region in western part of Balkan peninsula where organised crime would be prevented and neutralised. For this purpose they agreed to organise for the first time a meeting of ministers of internal affairs of four countries - Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro and Italy, having in view the vicinity and the ways of illegal trade.

All three states have registered a high level of flow of their citizens, which is a big and positive step forward in the region which was known for being shut for the citizens of neighbouring countries. In February, Albania and Montenegro signed the agreement on free movement of their citizens, opening of border crossings in Hana and Hotit and on preparations for opening new border crossings, and last month the agreement on free border flow between Albania and Macedonia. All three prime ministers highly estimated this experience and expressed their wish that policy of open borders become characteristic for the whole region of South-Eastern Europe which is still very far from this European achievement.

It seems that it is not by mere chance that this meeting of three prime ministers was convened in Durres and not in Tirana. Durres will be the main gate of the corridor which will link the East and the West connecting the Adriatic with the Black Sea. This corridor is in the interest of all three countries, but it is especially significant because of its links with the West. Albanian prime minister said to his guests during their meeting in the port of Durres that it did not belong only to Albania but to their countries as well. This metaphor of Albanian prime minister included the idea and the course of connecting these three states with the sea which lies to the West from them as a link with the countries of EU.

In the context of the situation Montenegro is in nowadays, the sea connection of Albania becomes especially significant when one knows that Montenegrin ports are firmly in the hands of Serbian and federal army and navy forces. The role played by Albania during NATO military operation and campaign of air bombing of military facilities in Serbia in spring last year, when it put its whole territory – on land and at sea – at the disposal of NATO is a factor that may be activated in new possible situations. Vicinity and convenient strategic position of Albania make its support to Montenegro of strategic value. Pro-Atlantic policy of Albania and its high level of cooperation with NATO as well as the fact that it is a historical opponent of Belgrade are parameters which also acquire a special value in conditions Montenegro is in.

It seems that they are aware in Podgorica of all these factors which are on the scene and which are taken into account in every strategic analysis or calculation. It seems that this powerful support prime minister of Montenegro received at the summit meeting in Durres is the greatest achievement which he returned to his country with, but also with a certain pacifying thought that this readiness of the southern neighbours was not all that spontaneous and that it included the approval of the West.

AIM Tirana

Shaban MURATI