Independent Member of Parliament Marjana Koçeku, who previously left Albania’s Socialist Party (PS), has publicly opposed the proposal to open a Serbian consulate in the northern city of Shkodër.
In a public statement, Koçeku said the initiative “will not pass easily” and announced that a protest against the plan is expected to take place in Shkodër on Sunday.
She also criticized the Albanian authorities for providing what she described as vague explanations regarding the issue, arguing that the government has sought to avoid offering clear answers.
In her statement, Koçeku linked the debate to recent developments in Kosovo.
She noted that excavations began two days earlier in Zubin Potok to locate the remains of Kosovo war victims, where authorities suspect the existence of a mass grave containing the bodies of 23 intellectuals allegedly killed by Serbian forces. According to her statement, the remains of six victims have been recovered so far.
Koçeku also referred to recent police operations during which weapons were reportedly seized and a suspect, alleged to have been a member of the former Yugoslav Army, was arrested.
“While all of this is happening, the Albanian state is talking about opening a Serbian consulate in Shkodër. What kind of consulate are we talking about?” Koçeku said.
She argued that, to date, Albanian institutions have offered only unclear explanations about the proposal.
“There has been nothing but vague statements from Albanian institutions on this issue—essentially an attempt not to clarify anything at all.”
Koçeku added that references to diplomatic principles, bilateral relations, and economic benefits overlook what she described as the reality of a people who suffered mass atrocities.
She reiterated that protests are expected to begin in Shkodër on Sunday, emphasizing that the proposal “will not pass easily.”
“While the Albanian state speaks of a consulate and good-neighborly relations with Serbia, mass graves of those killed during the Kosovo war are still being uncovered more than 25 years later,” she said.
