http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=06&dd=26&nav_category=90&nav_id=42055
Tadić, Berisha spar at BSEC summit 26 June 2007 | 18:16 | Source: Beta *ISTANBUL -- Reports say Albanian prime minister and Serbian president engaged in a verbal duel at the BSEC meeting in Istanbul Monday. * Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha is reported to have stormed out of the 15th Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) summit late last evening after President Boris Tadić reacted harshly to his speech. According to the Beta news agency, Berisha told the gathering that Kosovo was a unique case that should be granted independence. Berisha also touched on the history of the two nations and said that, during one period, Kosovo was “a Turkish vilayet as well,” and then went on to accuse the Serbs of having, “since 1945, committed genocide against Kosovo’s Albanians.” Tadić reacted by voicing strong protest, accusing Albania of meddling in Serbia’s internal affairs. “Serbia will never give up Kosovo and Metohija, which is an integral part of the country,” Tadić said. “I am asking, in an unequivocal manner, all the states to approach the future Kosovo settlement process displaying due high degree of responsibility,” he added. Tadić also told the summit that many Black Sea region countries faced problems similar to that of Kosovo, and stressed that Serbia, while defending its interest linked to the province, was at the same time “defending the interests of the entire Black Sea region.” After this, Berisha left the session. Beta also reported that several participants afterwards approached Tadić, “congratulating him on his defense of Serbia’s position.”
