On October 28, Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Belinda Balluku presented Liburn Aliu as the new Director of the Port of Durrës, the country’s largest maritime gateway. Aliu, formerly Kosovo’s Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure in Albin Kurti’s second government, resigned in August 2025 to take up this high-profile Albanian role.
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| Balluku and Liburn Aliu, Durres Port in the background |
Balluku praised Aliu’s experience and cross-border vision:
“He has always seen Kosovo and Albania as a common development market … the Port of Durrës is the port of all Albanians.”
Aliu emphasized the economic importance of stronger ties between Kosovo and Albania:
“Kosova needs a strong link with the Port of Durrës. Most Kosovan imports pass through here … and this connection should grow, benefiting both countries.”
Beyond merit: a pattern of strategic appointments
While the government frames these moves as professional and integrative, political analysts point to a broader strategy by Edi Rama: historically appointing Kosovar-origin figures to key Albanian roles to expand influence and subtly counter Albin Kurti’s power in Kosovo.
Two notable examples:
1. Besa Shahini, a Kosovar who served as Albania’s Minister of Education under Rama, and a former member of Albin Kurti’s political party in Kosovo. Her appointment was seen as a message to Pristina, illustrating how Tirana could attract top Kosovar talent into its administration.
2. Gent Cakaj, born in Kosovo, who served as Albania’s Foreign Minister and later as Foreign Affairs spokesperson. Like Shahini and Aliu, Cakaj’s appointment aligned with a pattern where Tirana positions Kosovan elites in strategic roles, thereby diluting Kurti’s domestic influence while signaling Albania’s leadership in the Albanian-speaking region.
This recurring strategy illustrates how Rama uses symbolic appointments to assert Albania as the regional center of political, economic, and cultural influence while potentially dividing Kurti’s political base in Kosovo.
Regional implications: influence and integration
Rama’s strategy has several dimensions:
• Symbolic leadership: Appointing Kosovar politicians sends a message that Albania is the hub for all Albanian-speaking populations.
• Economic integration: Positions like Aliu’s at the Port of Durrës promote stronger trade and logistical links with Kosovo.
• Political leverage: Strategically placing former Kurti-affiliated ministers in Albania could subtly undermine Kurti’s domestic authority and regional visibility.
According to Kosovo Online, “relations between Rama and Kurti have been tense, with underlying competition for regional leadership,” while CNA.al observes that Rama “cannot assert full influence if Kurti remains the dominant voice in Kosovo.”
Operational and economic aspects
Aliu’s appointment is not just political symbolism; it has real operational implications. The Port of Durrës serves as the main conduit for Kosovan imports and exports. The Albanian government is simultaneously developing Porto Romano, a €330 million international port project aimed at strengthening regional logistics and commerce. The winner of the construction bid will be announced on January 31, 2026.
Balluku emphasized that the new port would serve Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, reinforcing the economic rationale for Aliu’s role.
Conclusion: a blend of symbolism, strategy, and influence
The appointments of Liburn Aliu, Besa Shahini, and Gent Cakaj illustrate a deliberate pattern: bringing Kosovar politicians into senior Albanian roles. While publicly framed as promoting Albanian unity and regional development, the underlying strategic aim appears to expand Albania’s leadership in the Albanian-speaking world and subtly counterbalance Albin Kurti’s influence.
In this context, the Port of Durrës is more than infrastructure — it is a geopolitical tool, and Aliu’s appointment a symbol of Albania’s ambition to shape the region’s political and economic landscape.