Kosovo, Albania explore power, business projects

By Benet Koleka

TIRANA, May 15 (Reuters) - Kosovo and Albania have begun exploring how best to bring their economies closer, focusing on energy projects, infrastructure and trade, officials said on Thursday.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia three months ago, quickly winning recognition from the United States and most European Union states.

Albania is the only neighbour to have recognized landlocked Kosovo, most of whose people are also ethnic Albanian. Serbia vows it will never accept the secession, while Montenegro and Macedonia have not yet recognized it.

"Energy is one of the greatest challenges for the world and the Balkans. Truly, we should not lose the chance of harmonising not just the policies but also the projects," said Genc Ruli, Albania's Minister of Economy, Energy and Trade.

"In the very near future, we could have an efficient system," Ruli added. "Naturally, we need to cooperate not just as blood brothers but as neighbours seeing immense opportunities."

Both Albania and Kosovo suffer long hours of power cuts because their systems cannot produce enough electricity and they lack the right grid connections.

But lignite-rich Kosovo could supply Albania in winter when it needs more power than its hydropower stations can supply, and Albania could give it back when it has plenty of power in the spring.