Publicist Veton Surroi said that relations between Kosovo and Albania continue to be a “one-way street”, during a discussion on the PIKË podcast with Austrian historian Oliver Schmitt.
Schmitt opened the discussion by asking how Surroi sees the future of Albanian-Kosovar relations beyond identity issues, including social, economic, and cultural dimensions.
Surroi stressed that there is a “one-way street” in relations between the two countries, where Kosovo citizens feel at home in cities like Durrës or Vlora, while Albanians in Albania still do not have the same connection to Kosovo. He added that Kosovars have always had a deeper understanding of literature and culture from Albania, unlike on the other side of the border.
According to him, the next challenge is no longer physical existence as a state or nation – a battle already won – but the lack of hope for the future, which is pushing younger generations to seek prospects abroad.
“The depopulation of Kosovo and Albania is so dramatic that in 2031 the population is expected to fall to levels of the 70s-80s,” Surroi warned.
He also criticized the lack of economic cooperation, citing the possible example of energy investments on the Devoll River as a failed model of interconnection between the two countries.
Finally, Surroi emphasized that cohabitation between the two Albanian states is a great opportunity for the enrichment of the Albanian space, but requires a common vision for the future and sustainable cooperation in concrete areas that directly affect the lives of citizens.
POINT with Veton Surroin: Guest Oliver Schmitt