Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama (R) and North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev at a press conference in Ohrid, North Macedonia, November 10, 2019. (Photo: AFP / VNA)

This new initiative is aimed at establishing the free movement of goods and people by 2021 in the divided region. Bosnia, Montenegro and Kosovo have also been invited to take part in the project. But while Bosnia and Montenegro sent representatives to Sunday's meeting, Kosovo was absent.

Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia have a combined population of nearly 20 million people. Albania will host the next meeting of the Balkans initiative on December 21.