Albania has reacted to statements made by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić over the weekend regarding the possibility of changing the course of the Iber River.
In a statement posted on X, Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, expressed deep concern, stressing that any intervention in a transboundary watercourse cannot be decided unilaterally, particularly when it affects the interests of another state.
Hoxha emphasized that “water cannot be used as an instrument of political pressure or as a means of punishing another country or population.”
“Albania strongly supports Kosovo’s right to security, sustainable development, and the protection of its water resources,” he said.
Hoxha further stressed that changing the course of a river forming part of a transboundary water system is not merely an internal matter and cannot be decided unilaterally when its consequences directly affect another country’s territory, environment, water security, water supply and the lives of its citizens.
He pointed to international water law, including the principles of equitable and reasonable use of transboundary waters, the obligation to prevent and reduce cross-border harm, and the requirements for cooperation, information-sharing and consultation.
Albania called on Serbia to fully respect its international obligations and the principles of good-neighborly relations, stressing that any project or measure that could affect the flow, quantity or quality of waters affecting Kosovo must be addressed transparently, based on scientific evidence, with a full assessment of cross-border impacts and through consultation with the affected party.
Water cannot be used as a tool of political pressure or as a means of punishing another country or population.
Albania strongly supports Kosovo’s right to security, sustainable development and the protection of its water resources, while calling for such issues to be addressed through dialogue, cooperation and European standards not through threats, unilateral interventions or actions.
