Odnosi Albanije i Srbije u drugoj deceniji XXI veka: novi početak ili konstruktivnost pod pritiskom?
Relations betwen Albania and Serbia at the second decade of the XXI century: a new beginning or constructivity under pressure

Summary/Abstract: It is noticeable that from 2014 we are witnessing the intensification of relations between Serbia and Albania. Until then, official communication between two countries was mostly conducted through a multilateral format. Since then, Belgrade and Tirana have focused on bilateral relations: Aleksandar Vučić was Serbia's first Prime Minister in history who visited Tirana and Edi Rama was the first Albanian official who traveled to Belgrade after 68 years. A joint aim of the two countries is to work on strengthening economic relations, increasing trade, expanding cooperation in the field of tourism and building infrastructure projects. However, despite all announcements, relations between two countries remain complex and burdened primarily with the issue of the status of Kosovo and Metohija. Therefore, bilateral cooperation between Belgrade and Tirana can be seen primarily as a political necessity which both countries carry out to show that they meet the criteria for good neighborly relations and thus continue the process of “euro integration”. On the other hand, the stands on issues of importance for the security of both countries remain opposed, which in the long run does not give a hope for the development of cordial and fruitful relations. The attempt to build Serbian-Albanian relations on new foundations is, therefore, a difficult project and the current activities of both countries should be seen as a constructiveness that is manifested because of the pressure of the EU integration.

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