Muhamet Kelmendi has sought to learn what specific diplomatic or consular activities the Serbian consulate in Shkodër will carry out.
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In comments to “Bota sot,” he opposed the decision to allow the opening of the mission, arguing that its presence is not supported by any clear legal or practical need.
According to Kelmendi, the fact that no sizable Serbian community lives in the Shkodër area raises suspicions that the consulate may serve Serbia’s interests more than Albania’s.
He asked Prime Minister Edi Rama why Tirana gave Serbia approval to open its consulate specifically in Shkodër.
Kelmendi said the reasons for granting this approval have not been disclosed and questioned what justifies choosing Shkodër.
From both a legal and practical standpoint, according to him, there appears to be no need for a Serbian consulate in the city. He argued that there are not enough Serbian citizens in Shkodër County to justify establishing such a consular mission.
Kelmendi again asked why Shkodër had been chosen, stressing that the city is not a hub for direct diplomatic relations with Serbia. Nor, according to him, is there any significant Serbian community there in need of consular services.
For this reason, he said, suspicion naturally arises that the mission may be more useful to the interests of the Serbian state than to those of the Albanian state. From Albania’s perspective, Kelmendi said, there appears to be no tangible benefit.
He also addressed the lack of genuine reciprocity, arguing that Albania would have much stronger grounds for establishing a consulate in Preševo because of the large Albanian community living there.
According to Kelmendi, such an agreement could be understood to some extent in terms of reciprocity if, for example, Albania were to open a consulate in Preševo, where there is a sizable Albanian population.
He stressed that the Albanian state has a direct interest in providing protection and services to around 100,000 Albanians in the Preševo Valley, while the number of Serbian residents in Shkodër is extremely small.
Under these circumstances, according to him, there can be no talk of either genuine equality or reciprocity carrying real diplomatic weight.
Kelmendi said the lack of clarity deepens further when the question is raised as to what the consulate’s actual function will be.
If consular services are supposed to address citizens’ needs, he said, there is no specific demand from Serbian citizens in Shkodër that would justify this mission.
He noted that the movement of people, goods and finances between Albania and Serbia already takes place without the need for a Serbian consulate in Shkodër. Kelmendi also added that citizens of both countries travel without visas.
Concluding his response, Kelmendi called on Prime Minister Edi Rama to explain why the opening of Serbia’s consulate in Shkodër was permitted, as no specific Albanian interest supporting the decision has been presented so far.
He asked what defined diplomatic or consular duties the consulate would perform, adding that there does not appear to be a convincing answer.
According to Kelmendi, it is precisely the lack of such an explanation that fuels suspicion that the move may be connected to other interests beyond the reasons usually cited to justify opening a consulate.
If such interests exist, he warned, Albania must exercise great caution. Diplomatic and consular missions, according to him, should not be used as instruments for purposes other than those for which they were established.
Kelmendi concluded his comments to “Bota sot” by again asking Rama why Albania approved Serbia’s request for a consulate in Shkodër and what specific Albanian interest justifies the decision. He stressed that, so far, no such interest has been made clear.
