The Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Predrag Markovic, today met a five-member delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, headed by the Minister, Kastriot Islami.

Mr Islami underlined the importance of strengthening bilateral co-operation between Serbia and Albania with the aim of improving relations between members of both parliaments. Mr Markovic in turn stressed the importance of improving both parliamentary and economic co-operation between the two countries, assessing as inadequate trading possibilities, especially in the field of trade in agricultural produce and foodstuffs. Both officials agreed that developing regional co-operation was essential for integration into the European Union and resolving issues of security, organised crime and human trafficking, in accordance with European standards.

The officials then discussed Kosovo and Metohia, Mr Islami said that Albania would remain a principled adherent of the view that there should be no division of Kosovo or its integration with any neighbouring country, while Mr Markovic stressed that Serbia would solve the issue of Kosovo and Metohia through dialogue and in accordance with law, adding that talks between Belgrade and Pristina on technical issues were already in progress, and that political talks would ensue.

Mr Markovic said that parliamentary co-operation thus far was mainly at the Committee level, and underlined the importance of moving co-operation to a higher level.

The meeting between the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania was also attended by Gordana Comic, chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, and Marko Camaj, Ambassador of Serbia and Montenegro to Albania.