Dr. Vili Shefki Minarolli, Αmbassador of Albania to
Greece
ALBANIA AND REGIONAL
COOPERATION
Albania has
devoted and devotes a special and ongoing attention 10 the strengthening
of regional multilateral relations, which is also materialized in the
proceeding οf seferal in initiatives and regional organizations.
The commitment to these initiatives has served the promotion of the
relations neighbourhood, security and stability in the region, the draw of
political support for project financing in priority domains of national
and regional development.
The goal remains the promotion of cohabitation and relations of good
neighbourhood in the region through the confirmation of the active ;iml
moderate role of our country's foreign policy.
The role of Albania's foreign policy in terms of regional multilateral
relations is evaluated steadily by the European Commission Progress
Reports on the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Albania. While
all these reports confirm the active participation of Albania at all
initiatives in the Balkans, they do also point out that Albania maintains
constructive positions on regional cooperation and interreligious
relations, political dialogue, trade and economic cooperation.
Albania in NATO
The 2009 will enter in the Albanian history, as NATO's year. The
membership of Albania in NATO, of the biggest political military alliance
of freedom and security of all times, means the culmination of one of the
major goals, of these two last decades of transition and democracy, of our
country.
As a matter of fact, to achieve this coronation has not been easy at all,
but it is out of doubt that Albania and the Albanians have deserved it.
The membership of our country in NATO creates a safer environment and
together with the perspective of the future membership of Albania in
European Union will guaranty to our people sneruliiny that may be missing
today.
In the other hand, I am deeply convinced that the 2010 will be the year of
the abolishment of visa regime and of free movement for the Albanias
citizens, because almost all standards and requirement of the European.
Commission's roadmap for the abolishment of the visa regime are already
fulfilled by the government and other agencies and institutions of
Albania. So, we expect to joint soon, the three countries of our region
that have already abolish this barrier and this will be another
extraordinary occasion for Albanian citizens to touch and appreciate
concretely and closely that space and perspective of freedom that our
people has began to know from the moment of separation with the past
regime,
two decades ago.
After the acceptance from the Foreign Ministers of EU of the Albanian
application for the membership in European Union, in December 2009, to the
Albanian government has been handover the Questioner of the European
Commission and I can inform you that already all the institutions and
agencies in the country are working hard to respond to this Questioner on
time and with quality, in order to further pursuit with the upgraded phase
of the this very important process for our country.
