From: Die Morina van Uijtregt
Kosovo Allocates Funds for Albanian- Majority Towns in Montenegro and Serbia

Following flooding in Montenegro and Serbia, Kosovo’s outgoing government allocated funds to help the Albanian- majority towns to overcome the damages.

“Ten thousand euros have been allocated for the reconstruction of the Castle of Ulcinj, after the damage caused by the floods in Montenegro. The Municipality of Bujanoc will be assisted with 200 thousand euros for the repair of flood damage,” the outgoing Prime Minister of Kosovo, Avdullah Hoti said on Thursday.

Heavy rain in January caused serious damages to the ancient town walls of Ulcijn. As one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic coast, it was founded in the 5th century BC.

It is located on the southern coast of Montenegro, with an Albanian majority population.

While Bujanoc is part of Presevo Valley in Southern Serbia, with Albanians as the largest ethnic group in the municipality.

Serbia’s Presevo Valley located on the border with Kosovo and comprises of the Municipalities of Presevo and Bujanoc where the majority of the population is Albanian. Also politically, Medvegja Municipality is part of the Valley.

In December, Albania and Kosovo signed several agreements, aiming to improve cooperation between Albanians from Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, and the Presevo Valley.

Agreements were signed by the now-former Deputy Minister for Europe Foreign Affairs of Albania, Gent Cakaj, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, Meliza Haradinaj- Stublla, and a representative of Albanian- majority Presevo Valley.

“Now we have started a diplomatic action to increase the international sensitivity on the issue of Albanians in the Presevo Valley,” Cakaj said in December.