IN THIS ISSUE:

Re-examining Albania-Greece relations: AIIS joints efforts with two local organizations in an challenges of the present, prospects for the effort to engaging youth against violent extremism. • future. Read more about it in “Highlight” page 1 • Read more about it on“Our Events”, page 6 ’s Foreign Minister JacekCzaputowicz AIIS Chairman Rakipi travels to to attend the discusses Poland’s policy towards the Western 36th Workshop of the PfP Consortium. Read more • Balkans in AIIS Foreign Policy Forum. Read more • about it on “Other Activities and Contributions”, about it on“Our Events”, page 5 page 8

Adress: “Anton Zako Cajupi”, Nr. 20/5, Tiranë, Albania Tel: +355 444 000 84 Fax +355 444 000 85 E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.aiis-albania.org Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AlbanianInstituteforInternationalStudies/ Twitter: #AIIS_Albania AIIS Newsletter 14/ June 2018

Highlight Re-examining Albania-Greece relations: challenges of the present, prospects for the future On March 27, the Albanian and future relations of Albania and Mrs. Mimi Kodheli, Head of Institute for International Studies and Greece. Distinguished the Parliamentary Commission (AIIS) in cooperation with the guests who honoured this of Foreign Affairs. During this Friedrich Ebert Foundation in conference included H. E. Mrs. event, diplomats, experts and Tirana organized a day-long Eleni Sourani, Ambassador of academicians presented their conference focusing on present the Republic of Greece to Albania (Continued on page 2) (Continued from page 1) commitment and strong political will so as to make this process which started upon Greek initiative, a papers, which will later on be published. true turning point in our relations. Therefore let’s Addressing the conference, Greece’s Ambassador to move ahead,” said Ambassador Sourani. Tirana Eleni Sourani, said that false perceptions as “We need to bring our relations in the real world relations from the eyes of the Albanian public is a are fully recognized and secured, where there challengeidentified thatby a has 2013 to be AIIS overcome. survey “Whenon Albania-Greek one listens areof 2018, no territorial i.e. in an claims,era when the the protection borders of Europehuman to various political commentators or reads articles rights including minority rights is an international in the media, they norm and obligation have the impression of states and relations that there is enmity among countries are and insurmountable based on the principle problems between of sovereign equality,” Greece and Albania. she added. That is not true. It is just a false perception which Albert Rakipi, the head in my view is the most of the Albanian Institute important challenge for International Studies, of the present,” said says paradoxes and Ambassador Sourani. myths related to the past hold back relations between the two countries. “It is high time we changed the page. False perceptions, obsolete stereotypes “Understanding Albanian-Greek and unfounded prejudices should be relations in the post-Cold War buried once and forever. We are two environment is not possible without sovereign countries, two neighboring understanding and explaining the nations with distinct historic and paradoxes and myths created by cultural identities, each proud of its history. And undoubtedly, the future of own, allies in NATO, with a perspective those relations is not possible without of becoming partners in the EU, with overcoming myths and paradoxes.” full respect of each other’s territorial - Albert Rakipi, Chairman of the Albanian integrity and sovereignty.” Institute for International Studies - H. E. Eleni Sourani, Ambassador of Greece to Albania “Most paradoxically, the Albanian-Greek relations after the end of the Cold War and the collapse of communism and Albania’s opening to the West developed in two different spheres: One of them threatThe 2013 and AIIS the survey border, in AlbaniaCham andshowed Albanian about is the peace sphere, within which there are real migrantsa fifth of issuesAlbanians as the perceived most pressing.Meanwhile, Greece as a major relations in economy, trade, investment in parallel another survey conducted by AIIS’s Greek partner, to social exchanges, communication between the the Hellenic Foundation for Foreign and European Policy, ELIAMEP, found almost half of Greek there is also the other ‘sphere of war’ which in fact citizens perceive relations with Albania as neither istwo virtual societies and involvesin the field political of arts discourse, and culture political and good nor bad with the Albanian migration and elites, the media and various groups, especially expansionism and the Greek minority in Albania peripheral, populist and nationalistic groups,” he as the hottest issues. adds.“Within this noisy sphere, the discourse is almost totalitarian, populist and mainly involves “The two countries are in the process, in full speed contested issues stemming from history, the Cham I could say, in a spirit of openness and mutual question, the so-called Northern Epirus question respect, to address all issues, some of which based and the Greek minority,” says Rakipi. According on stereotypes and prejudice still prevailing in our relations. Both sides have demonstrated so far to him, the first sphere is the (Continuedreal one onand page the 3) 2 (Continued from page 2) received a boost, says relations between the two second one is the virtual one.“Although both those countries have been and continue to remain spheres seem to be developing and operating in strategic.“Greece has continuously supported parallel, there is a level of interdependence and

Greek relations after the end of the Cold War GreeceAlbania wh followingo have integrated the 2003 intoThessaloniki the Greek Summit. society. wereinfluence. determined The almost by cyclicalthe interdependency crises in Albanian- of WeThere should are somelook forward800,000 to Albanians overcome migrants problems,” in says Zeneli. According to him, relations between world dealing with relations between the two Albania and Greece have been rather frozen peoples,those spheres,” economic says and Rakipi.“The cultural firstcooperation one is a realand after Albania’s Constitutional Court turned down communication and cooperation between the two societies, and the second one has been built and maritime border, but are now moving back to a 2009 deal between the two countries on the functions based on paradoxes and myths which in the best case preserve the status quo in these language between the two countries should be morea spirit careful,” of confidence.“Political said Zeneli. and diplomatic relations without allowing their development and strengthening and in the worst case produces Selami Xhepa, an Albanian economic expert, cyclical crises which have damaged and could said the two countries have not fully made use damage relations in the future,” he adds. of economic opportunities despite Greece being the top foreign investor and traditional second Besnik Mustafaj, a writer and former foreign largest trading partner.According to him, there minister of Albania, says ‘inat’ a common word for has sometimes been rivalry instead of cooperation resentment inherited from Turkish and used by all between the two countries such as in regional road Albanians, Greeks and Serbians in the same form is infrastructure projects. a common thing which both Albanians and Greeks should archive and leave it to the past while looking Andrew Liaropoulos, a European studies professor forward to build a common future.“Problems stem at Greece’s Piraeus University, says Greece and from distant history and not from the political Albania are now interdependent also by the major class in the past 25 years which is something that Trans Adriatic Pipeline bringing Caspian gas to facilitates overcoming them,” he said. through Greece, Albania, already in its final ALBANIA AND GREECE: POLITICS AND construction stage and set to bring first gas flows by 2020. PERCEPTIONS for International Studies (AIIS) conducted, Alba Bashkim Zeneli, a veteran diplomat who served Çela,Referring the todeputy a 2013 studydirector that of the the Albanian AIIS unveiledInstitute how Greece was mistakenly perceived as a threat to Albania’s national security and a barrier to (Continued on page 4) as Albania’s Ambassador to Greece from 2002 to 2006 when ties between the two countries 3 (Continued from page 3) Albania’s EU integration by a considerable part of Albanians at a time when it has been one of the major supporters of Albania’s Euro-Atlantic integration. Andi Balla, a media expert, said discrimination and hardships faced by Albanian migrants in Greece have contributed to misperceptions, but remittances from Greece, the main source country for money sent home by migrants, have played a key role for Albania’s development. “In many ways, Greece has left more of a mark on post-communist Albania than any other country. The two countries’ peoples have for centuries been similar in culture, temperament and outlook for the world, but the past three decades have increased contacts and led to increased similarities and synergies between the Albanian and Greek people,” said Balla. “As the two governments look at bilateral relations, these people-to-people ties should be seen as a priority. Migrants are and should be viewed as a bridge between the two countries, that may seek autonomy or independence. In this secondnot as a largestpitfall,” tradinghe added. partner. Some 500,000Greece is Albanian the top not knowing isn’t valid for Greece,” he foreignofficially investor live and in work Albania in Greece,where itsthe companies country’s said.Accordingview, the justification to him, of Greece’sthe other non-recognition 4 countries for are present in almost every sector of the Albanian of Kosovo is the result of geopolitical calculations economy, including banking, telecommunication, and historical-religious ties with . construction, energy and health with total “On the geopolitical side, Kosovo’s independence investment of more than €1 billion. has weakened a close ally of Greece and has

KOSOVO IN-BETWEEN? ofstrengthened the Turkish formerthe Turkish Prime Ministerinfluence and Foreignin the The fact that Greece hasn’t still recognized Kosovo, Balkans, because since 2003, based on the ideas a majority ethnic Albanian Balkan country that been concentrated on the Muslim-majority areas declared independence from Serbia a decade inMinister, the Balkans. Ahmet I thinkDavutoglu, that there Turkey’s is a Greek-Turkish influence has ago, also contributes to misperceptions about Balkans, and Kosovo’s issue in relation to Serbia is AIIS researcher.“The Greek position towards partrivalry of thisfor economicrivalry.“The and geopolitical political influence considerations in the Greece in Albania, said Ledion Krisafi, a senior Kosovo is two-fold: on the one hand, it has go even further than this rivalry. They involve the recognized Kosovo’s passports, it has a diplomatic respective allies. To the Greek public, Kosovo is meetings between the Foreign Ministers of the Serbia was interpreted as a sign of U.S. imperialism representation office in Pristina, there have been two countries; but on the other hand it doesn’t inan the American Balkans, project while on and the in other 1999 hand, the bombingthe Russian of sympathies of the Greek public and the current “Of the 5 EU member states that haven’t recognized SYRIZA government are well-known,” he adds. recognize Kosovo’s independence,” said Krisafi. Kosovo, Spain has problems with Catalonia and The AIIS researcher believes Greece will recognize the Basque county, Slovakia has a large Hungarian minority in the south, Romania also has a large between Kosovo and Serbia, “an agreement under Hungarian minority, Cyprus has been divided for Kosovo only when there is a final agreement a half century; only Greece doesn’t have a large agreement could be reached.” minority concentrated in a part of the country which the Serbs will also be satisfied, if such an 4 OUR EVENTS: Poland’s policy towards the Western Balkans in the context of the European Union’s challenging future

“We are ready to offer our experience starting from the pre-accession period. The Tirana Conference, that is how we named it today, can also be held in Warsaw, in order to enable the bilateral

The Polish foreign minister also unveiled an Albania-Polandexchange of information business in forum all fields,” is going he added. to take place this month, the third in the past couple of years as the two countries examine opportunities to boost current modest trade and investment ties at a time when the number of Poles visiting Albania has registered the sharpest increase n May 7th, the Albanian Institute for among foreign tourists. International Studies in cooperation with Polish foreign direct investment in Albania is Othe Embassy of the Republic of Poland to estimated at only €2 million while the volume Albania organized the Foreign Policy Forum with of trade exchanges between the two countries, Poland’s Foreign Minister JacekCzaputowicz to overwhelmingly dominated by Albanian imports notify the public of Poland’s support to Albania’s from Poland at about €63 million annually, EU integration bid, by offering its expertise on the according to central bank and INSTAT data. Albert Rakipi, the head of the Albanian Institute a decision from EU amid skepticism by some key for International Studies, says Polish Ambassador Westernfirst negotiating members. chapters, The Foreign as the Policy country Forum awaits has to Tirana, Karol Bachura, a career diplomat who has been very active in promoting Poland-Albania has given an opportunity to experts and general ties and Albania to Polish tourists, is the best Albanianbeen a successful audiences activity to hear of AIISand sinceconverse 2003 with and indicator of the importance that Poland pays to relations with Albania. foreign policy, diplomacy, academia, etc. Albania and Poland established diplomatic important decision makers from the fields of integration into EU? Commenting on Poland’s between the two countries date back much earlier positionWhat is asthe an official EU Polishmember stand towards towards Albania Albanian as duringrelations the in 15th 1937 century soon underbefore Skanderbeg’s WWII but tiesera a possible member country in the future, the when the two nations aligned against the Ottoman minister stated “Albania is a NATO ally which Empire. has been making steady progress in reforms and we are ready to help you. Enlargement is a two-way process of conditions and reforms. If conditions are met, enlargement makes Europe stronger.” Poland has offered to share its pre- accession experience with Albania under the Tirana Conference, an exchange of information and

negotiating chapters involving the judiciaryexperience and initiative fundamental on therights first as well as justice, freedom and security

under Chapter 23 and 24. 5 OUR EVENTS: Engaging youth to build resilient local communities against extremism in Ura Vajgurore and Peshkopi municipalities

he rise of religious radicalism and violent in tackling this issue, the Albanian Institute for Textremism manifested at the most extreme International Studies partnered up with Alpin - Center for Regional and Economic Development (Peshkopi) and ARCI - Art Culture Initiative wholewith the region issue of of the fighters Western joining Balkans. conflicts Numbers in Syria vary (Berat) to organize some open talks and seminars accordingand Iraq tosignificantly different reports affected but Albaniait is believed and thatthe in Ura Vajgurore and Peshkopi municipalities with the aim of engaging youth to build resilient local abroad in a religious context. Several arrests were communities against extremism. The project is mademore amongthan 100 the Albanian ranks of the citizens recruiting joined imams conflicts who were later given court sentences. Albania has taken the European Union, Albanian Helsinki Committee. being implemented with the financial support of the discussions included: Problematicyouth’s inability issues thatto identify were identified and distinguish during radical tendencies from devotion to religion; • indifference towards radical tendencies: hesitation to report (suspicions of) extremist • behavior to their peers and/or authorities; knowledge gaps on the phenomenon due to lack of inclusion of basic information in the • school curricula, particularly in Peshkopi;

in academic institutions with regards to • identifyingan inefficient potential psychosocial radical behaviors.support system both legislative and implementation measures Participants who attended the open lectures in in line with its commitments as a partner in the Peshkopi and Ura Vajgurore were familiarized with the phenomena and terminology in a action targeting the socio-economic context and comprehensive and neutral way. Violent extremism theinternational religious indoctrinationfight against terrorism. narratives However have been the and contemporary challenges was the topic of the less intense than those in the law enforcement and police coordination areas. Research reports on March 21. The lecturer, Dr.Arben Ramkaj held that followed and analyzed the issue pointed out anfirst interactive open lecture discussion that took withplace thein Ura participants Vajgurore some of the reasons and factors that contributed on the effects of community work in countering and still have an impact on the likelihood of young violent extremism and provided them with a local people to be radicalized, manipulated into violent perspective. The role of schools in countering violent extremism in Ura Vajgurore is reportedly low levels of awareness and preparation for early better than in Peshkopi. warning,acts and evensocio-economic recruited as marginalization foreign fighters orinclude even In Peshkopi, Prof.Gjergj Sinani led the participants isolation and ineffective coordination mechanisms toward an understanding of freedom of conscience of institutions at the local level for both preventive (Continued on page 7) and responsive measures. Both the areas of Peshkopi and Ura Vajgurore are affected by low economic opportunities for youth, social marginalization (inexistent social and cultural life except few occasions in the urban centers of the respective municipalities) and low quality of education especially in the rural components of the regions.To contribute 6 OUR EVENTS: (Continued from page 6) and religion in a democratic society, during his lecture on April 3rd. The discussion that followed this lecture was focused on the role of schools in working towards a better coexistence between religious communities through a partial inclusion of religious education in the school curriculum, to ensure the students get adequately informed and that the struggle in countering violent extremism is brought on an institutional level. Considering the participants’ interest in the topic, the link between religion and education was further discussed in a dedicated open lecture that took place in Peshkopi

An open lecture on violent extremism and the participants reportedly regarded radicalism religiouson April 10th. radicalization in Albania was held in Ura asin Peshkopian “imported on April phenomena”. 4th. During Later the discussion, on, Prof. Vajgurore by Ms.Sidonja Manushi on April 6. The Sinani familiarized the young participants with purpose of this lecture was to raise awareness of the international treaties on countering violent the expansion of the phenomena in Albania and extremism in order to raise awareness and instil help the participants gain a better understanding a sense of duty among the youth, who, initially of the factors that contributed in the distribution expressed hesitation when asked whether they of radical ideologies in Albania. would be willing to signal the authorities/inform Religious tolerance as a social value was the their peers in case they encounter individuals who topic of the second open lecture that took place display signs of radicalization.

July

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

7 Other activities and contributions: Overcoming Blockades and Improving Intra-State/ Neighbourhood Relations in South East Europe Albert Rakipi, AIIS Chairman, attended the 36th In the past two years, Albania and Serbia Workshop of the PfP Consortium Study Group have increased their political communication “Regional Stability in South East Europe” on substantially and have undertaken some concrete “Overcoming Blockades and Improving Intra- steps to enhance economic collaboration. Despite State/Neighbourhood Relations in South East modest progress thus far, all the necessary Europe” organized bythe Partnership for Peace premises are now in place to mark a new era of Consortium of Defense Academies and Security relations between the two states. To date, there has Studies Institutes, the Austrian National Defence been low local support for the development of the Academy and the Directorate for Security Policy at relations between two states and their respective the Austrian Ministry of Defence. The Workshop, that people. The causes of this are historic, and they took place in Reichenau, Austria on May 3-6 brought include the myth of eternal enmity between Serbs together about 35 experts from the Western Balkans. Dr. Albert Rakipi took part in the session convened on “The triangle of regional (in) stability: Belgrade - Prishtina - Tirana relations” where he presented his paper: Anew rapprochement between Albania and Serbia: The implications for Kosovo. Rakipi maintains that the enhancement of the political dialogue between Albania and Serbia, including initiatives to foster economic collaboration, has spelled out a new era in bilateral relations. However, it has also prompted debate about three interrelated issues: and Albanians in the Balkans, the war in Kosovo and the ethnic cleansing campaigns undertaken the future of interstate relations between Albania by the Milosevic regime there, as well as weak andThe Serbia. first issueSecond, relates there to are the the past, implications current and for economic interdependence. In today’s new context, the relations between Albanians and Serbs as two local ownership would be necessary to deepen the peoples in the region, including reconciliation. Last bilateral relations in a sustainable way. but not least, the new rapprochement between Throughout his discussion, Dr. Rakipi analyzed Albania and Serbia has generated a controversial the current state of relations between Albania debate on the future of interstate relations and Serbia and the potential implications for between Albania and Kosovo. the relations between Albania and Kosovo in the The efforts to normalize relations between the context of the recent rapprochement between states of Albania and Serbia began soon after Tirana and Belgrade. the fall of the Milosevic regime, and took on new A member of PfP Consortium, the Albanian impetus after the last change in the political Institute for International Studies was the co- map of the Balkans with Kosovo’s declaration of organizer of the Regional Stability in South East Europewhich was convened in Tirana, Albania as an independent state marks the solution of independence in 2008. The recognition of Kosovo the title ”Rule of Law in the Western Balkans: constituted the essence of the national question. Lessonsfrom 29 andSeptember Way Ahead”. to 2 October 2017 under what for Albanians, in the past 100 years, has 8 AIIS New Publications SIR HAROLD SIR HAROLD ICOLSO

N N N ICOLSO

N DIPLOMACIA Diplomati, autori, kritiku dhe gazetari britanik, Sër Harold Nikolson (1886-1968), njihet gjerësisht si një autoritet mbi procedurën dhe problemet diplomatike. Mes veprave të tij të shumta janë tre vëllimet Diares and Letters, kronikat e tij mbi jetën politike dhe shoqërore britanike të mesit të

shekullit të njëzetë. Disa nga veprat e tij të tjera DIPLOMACIA janë: The English Sense of Humour; King George V, His Life and Reign dhe The Age of Reason.

ISBN: 978-9928- 195-17- 3

Çmimi: 1200 lekë 9 789928 400390

Brought to the public in Albanian by Jorgji Qirjako’s masterful translation, Sir

art of implementing foreign policy by negotiation. The historical development ofHarold diplomacy Nicolson’s is traced “Diplomacy” from primitive outlines origins a history to modernand definition times, ofwhen diplomacy, diplomatic the procedure has become highly sophisticated and is controlled by strict conventions. The latest addition to the AIIS Library of International Relations and History also describes the ideal diplomatist, the varying types of European diplomacy, and recent changes in diplomatic procedure. The remodeled British diplomatic service has been analyzed in the revised chapter dealing with “The Foreign Service.” The chapter on “Diplomatic Language” includes a glossary of words and phrases currently employed in diplomatic usage. An epilogue, added to this third edition, discusses

the basic contentions of “The Ugly American” view of diplomacy. the changes that have occurred in the field in post-war times, and refutes some of Sir Harold Nicolson, author and critic, was formerly with the British diplomatic service, and is considered an authority on diplomatic problems and procedure. Some of his other books are: The English Sense of Humour; King George V, His Life and Reign and The Age of Reason.

9 EUROPA Magazine, a publication of the Albanian Institute for International Studies

Albanian-Polishand House of Europe Relations. has dedicatedIn addition its to latest the Poland issue to section, the 100th the remainingAnniversary two- of thirdsregaining of theof independence Europa magazine of the offer Republic insight of Polandand critical and theapproach 80th Anniversary on key local, of regional and international developments. A special section is also dedicated to arts and culture, wherein this issue featured unpublished poems of the renowned Albanian author, Natasha Lako, as well as an excerpt from the novel “The Pianist” by award-winning Polish author, Wladyslaw Szpilman, who won the Jewish

europa.com.al Quarterly-Wingate Prize for non-fiction for the Holocaust memoir. To find out more about Europa’s contents, visit: