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TIRANA, Albania, Oct. 14 (UPI) Albanian officials said Thursday they feel neglected by the international community regarding the future of Kosovo.
"We have observed some hesitation to cooperate with us," Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo said during an address at a seminar Thursday.
The seminar on Balkan security was held in the Albanian capital,Tirana, and co-sponsored by the Albanian Parliament and NATO.
Milo said the West's disinterest in Albania "is caused by misunderstanding of a few official statements or from some irresponsible statements" issued by Sali Berisha, Albania's former president and current leader of the opposition Democratic Party.
Milo distanced the Albanian government from Berisha's statements two weeks ago, which encouraged an "Albanian Federation" in the Balkans. Berisha made the comments which reflect longstanding Albanian dreams of a "Greater Albania" at the Democratic Party's national convention two weeks ago.
Milo did not mention what "official statements" have scared off theWestern powers.
Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko has demanded an Albanian "national education program" for all ethnic Albanians in the Balkans, including those in Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro. Majko also offered to link Albanian telecommunications with Kosovo and asked that Macedonia and Montenegro provide more for ethnic Albanians in those countries.
Majko has also offered the Albanian port of Durres on the Adriatic as Kosovo's port city, so that Kosovo would have a port free of Belgrade'scontrol.
Milo did not attack directly any country or international organization that might have neglected Albania.
Several high-ranking American officials avoided Albania during trips to the Balkans during the Kosovo war, blaming their cancellations on poor security in Albania.