TIRANA, Dec. 19 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said at a year-end reception with foreign diplomats that Albania will not stray from its EU integration path despite difficulties.
“Our country does shake from its clearly European references and affiliations,” said Rama, adding, “That affiliation excludes any ambiguous stand.”
The premier said that the Adriatic-Ionian connection and that of the southeastern Europe make Albania play an important role in the region.
Rama also highly evaluated bilateral ties with Washington and said that the recent strategic partnership could be an example the tiny country would like to apply with other countries.
“Albania and the region may be led form the culture of inclusiveness and may turn into a family of peoples with many residences but one common shelter,” he said, in a clear indication that the regional countries should become part of the big European family.
Fighting terrorism and being part of the global coalition is an important part of the country’s foreign policy. Albania is ready and also takes part in all NATO missions like that in Afghanistan and it is also preparing a company to be ready be deployed any moment the alliance may ask for.
Rama said he appreciated German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s efforts on EU integration and the initiative of the Vienna Conference project that tries to bring Western Balkan countries together in line toward membership into the European Union.
The judicial reform and fighting corruption remain other main topics for the country. Rama said these reforms would “guarantee the foundations of the modern building of the democratic state we are trying to build each day as without that reform they would remain sand castles that the first wave would turn into nothing,” he said.
Next year, 2016 will be an important one for the country, according to Rama, who said that for the first time the budget would have a good growth.
