Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, voiced concern over a statement made by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, concerning the potential alteration of the Ibar River’s course. In a post on the X platform, Hoxha emphasized that modifying the path of an international river cannot be managed as a purely domestic matter nor executed unilaterally. Hoxha stated, “Albania expresses deep concern regarding the statement by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, regarding the possibility of changing the course of the Ibar River and involving Serbian experts and institutions in reviewing such a possibility.” He cautioned that such a decision could have direct and significant ramifications for Kosovo’s territory, environment, and water security.
The minister’s statement underscored the international nature of the issue, arguing that any proposed change to the river’s flow must adhere to established international legal frameworks. The concerns raised by Albania highlight the need for multilateral consultation when discussing infrastructure projects affecting transboundary water resources. The controversy centers on the potential engineering changes to the Ibar River, a waterway of regional importance.
Albania’s reaction signals a diplomatic pushback against unilateral actions, asserting that the management and modification of this significant river require comprehensive, internationally recognized procedures involving all riparian states.
Topics: #albania #regarding #river
