Subject: Yugoslavia and Albania re-establish diplomatic ties: statement
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2001 8:30:12 PST
From: C-afp@... (AFP)
Organization: Copyright 2001 by Agence France-Presse (via ClariNet)
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BELGRADE, Jan 19 (AFP) - Yugoslavia and Albania have formally
re-established diplomatic relations which were broken off during the
Kosovo crisis in April 1999, the Yugoslav foreign ministry announced
on Friday.
"Albania's government accepted with pleasure Yugoslav government
initiative (to resume ties) and by exchange of notes on January 17,
the diplomatic relations were renewed," said the statement, carried
by state Tanjug news agency.
Diplomatic relations were cut over what Belgrade called
Albania's "active support and participation in NATO aggression
against Yugoslavia and territorial claims towards Kosovo."
Albania backed a NATO bombardment campaign aimed at forcing an
end to repression by Yugoslav forces of the ethnic Albanian majority
in Serbia's Kosovo province.
Yugoslavia accused Albania of aiding armed ethnic Albanian
separatists in Kosovo.
The Yugoslav government's decision to renew the ties with Tirana
was "aimed at strengthening friendly relations and stabilizing the
Balkans region," the ministry said.
Since reformist President Vojislav Kostunica took power here in
October, Yugoslavia has renewed diplomatic ties with NATO members
United States, France, Germany and Britain.
Belgrade also has resumed bilateral relations with its immediate
neighbours from the ex-socialist Yugoslavia -- Slovenia, Bosnia and
Croatia -- since the ouster of former strongman Slobodan Milosevic.