SEE Interior Ministers call for quick visa liberalization for Albania, Bosnia

TIRANA, May 4 – Interior Ministers of the Salzburg Forum member countries and Western Balkans have sent a letter to the Council of Europe, the European Commission and the European Parliament requesting quick visa liberalization for Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The call came during a meeting of Interior Ministers held in Sarajevo, Bosnia, on April 28 to 29. Albania was represented in the “Intercultural Dialogue and internal security” conference by deputy Interior Minister Avenir Peka, said the Interior Ministry in a statement.
Appreciating the fulfillment of roadmap criteria, the Interior Ministers requested no further delays for visa-free travel for Albania and Bosnia.
The signatories expressed their commitment and support for the immediate adoption of procedures and avoiding administrative barriers so that the citizens of Albania and Bosnia can benefit from visa-free travel as soon as possible.
Last year, both Albania and Bosnia were judged to have failed to meet the necessary conditions and were excluded from first wave countries in the region, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia which were added to the “White Schengen” list.
The Interior Ministers also adopted a joint declaration stressing the importance of intercultural dialogue in establishing freedom, equality and security in the region. The development of democratic values and promotion of intercultural dialogue are some of the main priorities of the Stockholm Programme.