Serbia's entry ban on Albanian citizens sparks diplomatic tensions

Serbian Ambassador Slobodan Vukčević was summoned to Albania's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEPJ) in Tirana following the declaration of two Albanian citizens as "persona non grata" after participating in a civil society seminar in Belgrade, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

The Albanian MEPJ requested clarification from the Serbian ambassador, emphasizing the need for Serbia to reconsider its decisions and ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future.

The Albanian ministry stated that the expulsion of the two civil society representatives is inconsistent with efforts to maintain good neighborly relations and negatively impacts the free movement of Albanian citizens. "This case is being closely monitored by the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade," the ministry wrote in a Facebook post.

Citing “national security risks,” Serbia has banned entry for one year to 14 civil society representatives from Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Moldova, North Macedonia, and Albania.

On January 21-22, the representatives were in Belgrade at the invitation of the Austrian Erste Foundation to discuss "strategies for NGOs to generate income"—a completely apolitical activity unrelated to ongoing anti-government protests in Serbia since November last year.

Gazmir Memaj of the “Mary Ward Loreto” foundation and Edlira Lilaj of the “Help Organization” in Tirana were among the 14 civil society members who were interviewed by Serbian intelligence and police. Their passports were stamped with a one-year entry ban.