By Edmond Haxhinasto
Foreign Minister
It is a special pleasure for me to address such an esteemed Forum today and at the same time to extend my thanks to the hosts for making such a gathering possible in the series of the fora on Albania’s foreign policy.
In the world of ours, distinguished participants, characterized by an accelerated globalism and a multifaceted inter-dependency, the dynamics of development become extremely rapid and complex; accordingly, the foreign policy has to remain solid, principled, showing mature flexibility and rely on the reality.
However, in my opinion, despite the dynamics of the realities and global regional or national developments, the ever-growing role and status as well as the increasingly noticeable profile that Albania has gained in the universe of international relations remains unchanged. The accession to NATO, the visa liberalization, the tangible progress in the process of joining the EU, the contribution to peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the contribution in the global fight against terrorism have their bearing on Albania’s new profile.
Albania is and will remain a serious partner and an important regional factor, which contributes to the maintenance and strengthening of political and economic stability in the region and wider. Thanks to its maturity and dignity, our foreign policy extends to the dimensions of a policy of alliances and partnerships, ensuring in this way a long – term and ongoing cooperation, which assists and orients a safe and sustainable Euro-Atlantic integration.
There are events in the history of a nation, which go down forever in the national memory, having thus an impact, on both the vision and optimism for the future. The free movement is one of them. Now Albanians travel without visas in the Schengen area, an area to which we do belong in full in geographical and now in psychological terms, while tomorrow politically speaking as well. This is an achievement well deserved and a promise delivered. The decision taken by the EU countries for Albania will be treated by Albanians with its greatest dignity.
Following Albania’s NATO accession and the visa liberalization, the major goal of the country’s integration to the EU has become a synonym of Albania’s foreign policy action.
Our relations with the EU member States have moved on to the parameters of close and full – fledged partnership and cooperation. The relations are more dynamic, communication has become even more concrete and straightforward. There are also more benchmarks and obligations for all parties concerned.
Albania has established solid and progressive relations with the EU and its 27 Member States. The Agreement of Stabilization and Association is our primary roadmap and commitment. The Opinion of the EU Commission will be a working plan for us, so that we could be qualified as a candidate member next year.
I avail myself of this opportunity to thank the Belgian EU Presidency for its support in the process of visa liberalization and the advancement of the integration process; I express the confidence that, as the highest Hungarian authorities confirmed to me, our priorities will remain at the focus of the attention of its EU Presidency during the first half of 2011.
The foreign policy of Republic of Albania is oriented in such a way as to be committed to its utmost to strengthening the relations of good – neighborliness and the integration of the region.
Regional cooperation goes beyond the expression of the political will for good – neighborliness. For the Republic of Albania, regional cooperation consists in the concrete contribution for the region’s integration in the following aspects:
– Encouragement of all Albanians, in all the states where they live to be a promoting factor for the Euro – Atlantic integration of these states,
– Joint regional infrastructure,
– Removal of all non-physical barriers for the free movement of goods, people and capitals,
– Support for the integration process in each country – the integration to the security structures and to the EU,
– The joint commitment to change the image of the region, in order to make it an attractive and competitive market.
As a strategic country in terms of security, peace and the prosperity of the region, Albania is determined to upgrade its role in this respect, by raising its regional cooperation to new and higher levels.
Albania supports the establishment of a free trade area among the countries of the region, without visas and physical or non-physical barriers, which would contribute to speed up the integration processes.
The age of globalism urges us to step up the efforts in order to have a Balkan region, which would be closely economically integrated. This would also help turn it into an important factor in the international markets, given its geographic position, as a binding bridge between East and West.
In this spirit, the Republic of Albania will strengthen the cooperation with the Republic of Kosovo, by enhancing and institutionalizing it at all levels and areas of mutual benefit.
Albania is engaged in lobbying, designed to increase the number of states that recognize Kosovo, as a sovereign state; likewise, it is also ready to assist with its integration experience and specialized capacities to speed up Kosovo’s process of European and Euro – Atlantic integration.
Following the opinion rendered by the ICJ and the UN Resolution, we think that a new momentum is required for new recognitions for Kosovo, as a significant contribution to boost the parameters of security in the region.
Let me express the view that Kosovo’s inclusion at all multilateral initiatives on regional level and even wider, as well as its integration to the Euro-Atlantic structures is a necessity for the stability, peace and prosperity in the region. Under these circumstances, devising Roadmap for Kosovo’s integration process becomes a pressing Must.
In my assessment, the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo and its political parties, with their maturity and accountability characterizing them up hitherto are managing the process in the aftermath of the parliamentary elections, aimed at reflecting in a direct and democratic way the will of all citizens of Kosovo, particularly those of ethnic minorities, whose integration to politics is not a matter of demographic percentages, but a major principle and obligation for the entire European perspective of Kosovo.
The cooperation and relations with the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Montenegro will continue to be guided by the concrete spirit and action of the policy of good – neighborliness and partnership, conducive to the integration and stability in our region.
Our relations with these two countries include a wide range of cooperation, which should be further materialized in infrastructure, energy, tourism, environment, education and culture.
We have encouraged the Republic of Macedonia and we have backed up the endeavors for the institution of domestic reforms and, in particular, for the full implementation of the Ohrid Agreement; this would lay the necessary foundation for inter-ethnic cohabitation, sharing and coordinating the responsibilities in the country’s administration and in the integration process.
We are fully committed to raise the cooperation with Montenegro even higher all areas of mutual benefit. Albania welcomes the Decision of the EU Commission for granting the EU candidate status to Montenegro and encourages it in its process of NATO accession.
The development of relations with Serbia remains a priority of our regional policy. In this context, the bilateral cooperation is intensified, being materialized in a number of visits, events and agreements, whose success will have positive effects in the progress of relations and our integration aspirations.
Now that the issue of Kosovo’s status and borders is a definitively turndown page for ever, the direct dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, as two independent and sovereign states on technical issues is indispensable.
Albania maintains good relations with Bosnia – Herzegovina and we support it in its Euro-Atlantic integration.
We have an excellent record of relations with Croatia, which should get a larger economic substance.
The new international position of the Republic of Albania requires from us to reinforce and reassess the relations with other states – those with which we do have an earlier tradition but also with states with which we have a new tradition of relations.
Albania’s foreign policy is designed to strengthen bilateral relations, focusing on the strengthening of the existing relations and in their enhancement with countries, which geo-politically and geo-economically are far away from our country. Globalism represents an advantage for smaller countries, since it shortens the distances and offers larger opportunities and visibility.
Our foreign policy dynamics will continue to maintain and strengthen the relations with our traditional and strategic allies.
The relations with the USA occupy a primary place. We shall add to the brilliant relations in the political and security field the dimension of increased economic cooperation. The USA is also our strategic ally on issues of regional and global policy and security.
Relations with Italy are at their highest level; a testimony to that is also the large number of areas of cooperation and the recent signing of the Document on the Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
Greece is a friendly country and a partner of strategic significance. At the foundation of our relations lie common numerous and vital interests. We shall strengthen even further the relations with the Government of Greece, shielding them from the negative nationalistic and extreme sensitivities.
Albania and Turkey have a record of traditional and excellent record of relations between them, which are being materialized with a vigorous dynamics of trade and economic cooperation. This is perfectly proved by the presence of powerful Turkish companies in the Albanian economy.
Albania is determined to continue the close cooperation and partnership with all the EU member states. With the NATO allied countries, as Germany, France, the UK, our country will consolidate even further the state of cooperation to date, by reinforcing the features of this partnership with them.
Following the global developments and realities attentively, our foreign policy is deepening the political dialogue and economic cooperation with countries like China, Japan, South Korea, India, Brazil, South Africa, Australia and Mexico.
Viewed from this perspective, we intend to open new diplomatic representations soon in Kuwaiti State, in Qatar, which shall be added to the newly opened representations in Slovakia, Japan, Brazil and India.
Likewise, we are fully ready and we are working on strengthening the relations with Russia, while assessing the importance of this country for global peace and security, including our own region.
In the framework of boosting the international profile of the Republic of Albania, the Albanian diplomacy will attach special attention to its relations with the Member States of the UN Security Council.
In this regard, the diplomatic action will be focused on an integrated and scheduled approach, designed to revitalize bilateral relations, in harmony with and in to the benefit of our national interest. This revitalization will include the consolidation of the visibility of the Albanian diplomacy, as well as the completion of the legal framework of cooperation by signing agreements in the areas of mutual benefit.
Albania’s role in the international arena has gained a new dimension and momentum of development, thanks to our devotion and readiness to contribute with seriousness and accountability to the major challenges and issues, which today constitute the key word of international relations.
We count on a strong, dynamic and reformed UN, capable of adjusting and responding effectively to challenges on global scale, in view of strengthening peace, integrated and sustainable development, upholding human rights or addressing climate changes.
Albania has expressed its readiness to expand its own contribution to all organizations, by taking over new commitments in the framework of security and development challenges and through the participation in the common institutions, regional initiatives and wider.
In keeping with the new responsibilities of the Republic of Albania, we have initiated the action for our rotating Chairmanship of the OSCE,the Non-Permanent Member status of the UN Security Council, Member of ECOSOC, Human Rights Council and others.
After complying with all obligations stemming from the Ottawa Convention on the Destruction of Mines, our country will chair for one year onwards the proceedings of this Convention, which is attended by nearly 154 UN Member States.
As a NATO Member State, the Republic of Albania is a factor of peace and stability in the region and beyond, which is also reflected by our contribution with 307 troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. Our commitment will increase in training Afghan forces to help enable them meet security challenges.
We appreciate the New Strategic Concept of the Alliance and we welcome the positive dynamics in its relations with Russia in tackling the common security challenges.
Albania’s role in meeting the global challenges will also strengthened in terms of a closer partnership with international and regional organizations. We shall raise our contribution in coping up with the challenges of security, energy routes, combating organized crime and corruption.
The foreign policy agenda and its diplomatic activity does also encompass the following set of important issues:
First, the growing the care for the old and new Albanian Diaspora; to this end, we shall provide support for its organization in the countries where they are living, the maintenance of the identity of its culture and language and we shall ensure their contribution to the social security systems.
Secondly, the promotion of the values and the image of Albanians and Albania will be a priority of the diplomacy; its effectiveness will become even larger in cooperation with all the countries of the region, in order to make the region more integrated and attractive.
Third, the enhancement of professional diplomatic capacities and the strengthening of its economic dimension. We are considering specific training programs with our partners for our diplomats. This diplomacy has yielded its own fruits; this is translated in the increased intensity of economic relations, the completion of the legal frame of cooperation, joint economic commissions, the growth of the number of prestigious companies investing in our country and others. All these were achieved through the intensification of diplomatic contacts of our country with the business circles worldwide.
In the current stage of our country’s sustainable development, our diplomatic missions have stepped up the work, in order to introduce our country’s values and business potentials. We want our missions be even more efficient and our diplomatic to have a serious, qualitative and professional work performance and an ongoing commitment as well.
Last but not least, we shall reinforce the analysis and prognosis capacities in the diplomatic service, engaging in this process all think – tanks and prominent personalities from the civil society.
This is a speech of Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered at the Forum of Albanian Council on Foreign Relations held on December 20th
