Statement follows report that Tirana would close embassies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia due to the lack of funding.
TIRANA, Jan. 6 – Albania’s Foreign Ministry has denied news reported in the local media that it has planned to close several of its embassies in the region due to lack of funds.
The local media had said that Tirana would close embassies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia due to the lack of budget. The ministry denied the news in a statement this week.
The ministry “has not taken any decision that would lead to the closure of the embassies of the Republic of Albania. We appeal to the media to be more correct with such news,” it said. Albania’s embassies in the region are very small to begin with. The one in Sarajevo is only staffed by the ambassador, for example. Montenegro and Croatia have a staff of three, the media reported.
Albania’s new government is trying to cope with a big budget deficit and has reached a deal with the International Monetary Fund to get a soft loan of some 300 million euro to continue its projects and keep its budget in line.
The opposition has voted against the new budget. Former Finance Minister Ridvan Bode said the two instruments the government has chosen, increase of taxes and public debt, will only accelerate the country’s economic collapse.
Finance Minister Shkelqim Cani has said the new package is in function of stabilization of economy because it aims to generate additional incomes from taxes and customs.
