In a panel of the Forum of Dubrovnik, where diplomats from the region participated, including EU Envoy Miroslav Lajçak and Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia James O’Brien, a clash was noted. Asked by the journalist moderator Michael Martens if the EU membership process is a process based on merit, Albanian Chief Diplomat Igli Hasani addressed criticism saying that “the centripetal forces towards the EU must be increased” and that Albania will continue fulfills the required criteria and “that he is not doing this because of the EU but because of Albania itself”.
“I have difficulty understanding that my country has organized only one intergovernmental conference (Albania-EU), and so have others. That’s it,” he said. Chief diplomat Hasani referred to the first Albania-EU conference in 2022, for the opening of negotiations.
Lajçak, who is the EU’s Special Representative for the Western Balkans and Emissary for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, reacted to this.
“I feel obliged to answer the question that Minister Hasani asked. I mean this process is absolutely merit based. There is a lot of politics and geopolitics in the preparatory phase, the decision to grant candidate status, the invitation to open negotiations for membership, but once you are in the process of membership, you must fulfill the criteria, there is no shortcut,” said Lajçak.
However, the Albanian chief diplomat immediately reacted to this finding.
“You never said short cuts… despite the respect you have for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. So I want to be clear about one thing. We have no conditions for the conditions that have been imposed on us. Let me be clear about this,” Hasani said.
Lajčak reacted by saying that “I am not arguing with you Igli”.
Immediate was the reaction of Hasanii who directly asked him to deal with the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, even ironically mentioning the results.
“Yes, yes, but stick to the dialogue, we will be happy if you have any results, we will support, we will continue to support as we have done…but stick to the dialogue”, said Hasani.
The Slovak replied by saying that “my mandate is wider than dialogue, regional issues”.
Hasani continued: “Yes, but stop at the dialogue.”
Lajçak’s answer was not missing either, which ended the short and intense controversy between the two protagonists:
“Also, I have a personal experience of 25 years that I cannot ignore. I was part of this process of my country, the Western Balkans, and I dare to say that I know something about it”, said the Slovak.
*Photo from the International Conference on Peace and Sustainable Growth in Athens, June 18, 2024.
