He said it was of paramount importance that Serbs in Albania feel that the mother state cares about their position:

“The protection of the identity of Serbs in Albania and the entire region has to be an issue of national interest”, said Dr Veselinovic. He added that boosting economic cooperation between the two countries is also something that merits future discussion.

The Committee delegation comprising, Committee Chairman Dr Janko Veselinovic and Committee members Aleksandar Cotric and Milan Djurica, met with the Vice-Speaker Albanian Parliament Vangel Dule and Minister of Education and Sport Lindita Nikolla with whom they discussed the importance of respecting minority rights and the need to make it possible to teach Serbian language in areas populated by Serbs, as well as the possible information service in the Serbian language and script. Both sides would like to see the minorities become a bridge between the two countries and to deepen cooperation in the fields of culture, education, sport, science and strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.

With Albanian Ombudsman Igli Totozani, the delegation discussed the need to pass legislation on national minorities which would overcome the problems relating to minority rights in Albania.

The MPs also talked to the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Legislation, Public Administration and Human Rights Fatmir Xhafaj and Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Serbia Dr Petrit Vasili. The delegation also met with the OSCE Ambassador to Albania Florian Raunig. Serbian Ambassador to Albania Miroljub Zaric attended all the meetings and visits.

The delegation also visited the Serbs in Fieri, second largest city in Albania boasting a Serbian community, and the village of Ret Libovis, boasting about 500 Serbian families, where the Serbian associations Unity has been organising classes of Serbian language for 4 years now. The delegation also visited Serbs in Skadar (Shkodra) and talked with representatives of Association Morac-Rozafa and St. John Vladimir, and also visited the church of the Holy Trinity in Vraka near Skadar that has Serbian services on religious holidays.

Today, the Committee will be visiting the city cemetery in Tirana to lay a wreath at the monument to Serbian soldiers and patriots who died on the territory of Albania between 1912 and 1918.