Bosnian PM in Albania seeks closer ties

TIRANA, Dec 10 – Bosnian Prime Minister Nikola Spiric made a two-day visit to Albania to meet with top officials to discuss bilateral ties and regional developments.
His visit in Tirana follows the visit of the Bosnian President and head of parliament earlier this year.
The two countries seem to be in somewhat similar positions, or levels, in their integration efforts into the European Union, though Albania has already received a membership invitation from NATO.
Bosnia became part of the Adriatic 3 Charter, which served Albania, Croatia and Macedonia to move them along in their hope of becoming a full NATO member.
Spiric and Albanian host Sali Berisha said they would compile a joint working plan to further intensify their countries’ ties.
Tourism could be an area of collaboration as both countries have great potentials.
Albanian and Bosnian leaders are promising to eliminate the visa restrictions between the two countries in the first few months of 2009.
“It would be laudable to find a quick solution in the early months of 2009 in order to facilitate the free movement of people, goods and services between the two countries,” said Albanian President Bamir Topi during a meeting with the Bosnian delegation.
The Bosnian premier noted that both countries would arrange the liberalization very soon and that diplomatic missions would be opened in Tirana and Sarajevo.