By Micky Haxhiislami*
If reports that Serbia plans to open a consulate in Shkodra are accurate, Albania must treat this matter with far greater seriousness than a routine diplomatic procedure.
Such a decision cannot be separated from the historical and political reality of Albanian-Serbian relations. Diplomacy is not only about protocols and agreements; it also sends political messages and creates strategic influence.
A Serbian consulate in Shkodra raises legitimate questions: What concrete need justifies this decision? Is it based on real consular requirements, or is it part of a broader effort by Belgrade to expand its political presence and influence in Albanian areas?
At the same time, this issue cannot be placed on the same level as the legitimate demand of Albanians for an Albanian consulate in Bujanoc, Medvegja and Presheva, territories with an indigenous Albanian population that has faced decades of political, institutional and economic discrimination.
This is not a matter of reciprocity. True reciprocity requires equality of conditions, rights and treatment. The institutional needs of an indigenous community cannot be equated with the strategic expansion of a state’s influence beyond its borders.
Moreover, Serbia continues to challenge Kosova’s international position, oppose its membership in international organisations, and has yet to fully confront the legacy of wars, crimes and suffering endured by Albanians in Kosova.
A state that has not honestly faced its past cannot demand complete normalisation of relations as if history were simply forgotten.
There is also a growing concern among many Albanians in Kosova that decisions made in Tirana often fail to reflect the sacrifices, expectations and concerns of Albanians across the border. Albania’s foreign policy must consider not only immediate diplomatic interests, but also its responsibility toward Kosova and Albanians facing discrimination and pressure from Serbia.
The relationship between Albania and Kosova is built not only on geography, but on shared history, identity and sacrifice. Therefore, Albania has a national responsibility to protect Albanian interests wherever they live and to avoid decisions that could be interpreted as legitimising outdated policies from Belgrade.
The Albanian government must give a clear explanation: Why now? Why Shkodra? What is the strategic purpose behind this decision?
Especially at a time when evidence of war crimes in Kosova continues to emerge, including the discovery of mass graves containing Albanian victims, every diplomatic step involving Serbia must be guided by transparency, responsibility and historical awareness.
Friendship and cooperation between peoples are built on truth and justice, not on forgetting.
____________________
*Source: Comment by Micky Haxhiislami, originally published on his personal LinkedIn account.
© 2026 Argumentum
