A high-level regional conference in Albania has sparked a diplomatic controversy after Kosovo was represented with a footnote referencing UN Resolution 1244 – a move that led to the walkout of Kosovo’s acting Deputy Minister of Finance, Agon Doburuna.

The event, organized by Albania’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection and attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama, aimed to promote regional cooperation on social and economic matters. However, the Kosovo delegation quickly objected to how their country was presented — not as an equal participant, but with a status-neutral footnote that Kosovo has long rejected.

In a public statement on Facebook, Doburuna called the treatment “deeply disappointing and unacceptable for a sovereign state,” and confirmed that he refused to sign the Declaration of Commitment.

“We are committed to peace and stability in the region, but that cannot happen by denying our statehood,” he wrote, emphasizing Kosovo’s active contribution to regional efforts.

Doburuna also criticized the Albanian ministry for ignoring requests to adjust Kosovo’s designation, saying it violated the spirit of cooperation the conference was meant to embody.

The incident has reignited tensions around Kosovo’s international recognition, particularly in forums where not all participating states recognize its independence. While Albania is one of Kosovo’s strongest allies, the episode highlights the diplomatic tightrope that remains in multilateral settings.