Albania, Montenegro strengthen ties

TIRANA, March 11 – Montenegrin Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Igor Luksic held a two-day visit to Tirana to meet with his Albanian counterpart in an attempt to further strengthen the already very good ties between the two neighboring western Balkan countries.
He met with his counterpart, Edmond Panariti, and also signed several agreements.
Panariti said that the bilateral ties are based not only on a political will but also on a substantial and concrete cooperation.
Cooperation in the energy sector in particular and a possible cooperation agreement on the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project were on the focus of bilateral talks.
Panariti said that he and his Montenegrin counterpart have signed a memorandum of cooperation in education and training and an agreement on exchanging and protecting classified information. Panariti also offered to his Montenegrin counterpart to sign a memorandum of Understanding between Albania and Montenegro to confirm support the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project.
“I am fully confident that today’s meeting and the constructive spirit characterizing relations between Albania and Montenegro will give a fresh impetus to bilateral cooperation,” said Panariti.
Luksic also hailed the signed deals saying that, “I share the same evaluation with my colleague that it is necessary to continue, push further the European integration when we are speaking of the western Balkans. We share the same priorities.”
Albania is a NATO member while Montenegro is a step ahead with the European Union as it has already received the candidate status, which Tirana has yet to acquire.
The next day both ministers took part at the business forum with businessmen from both countries discussing on ways to further strengthen their cooperation and joint projects.