TIRANA, July 13 – Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha took part in the Summit in Dubrovnik on 9-10 July 2009 entitled “Strategic imperative of Europe: Energy, Investment and Development,” organized by Croatia in cooperation with Sweden, which holds the UE Presidency, for the second half of this year.
Prime ministers, foreign ministers and senior officials of regional EU member countries, of the European Parliament, European Commission, NATO, and others took part at the meting.
The main topics of debate were the Euro-Atlantic perspective of the Western Balkans, further strengthening of regional cooperation and the collaboration in the field of infrastructure, energy, environment, etc.
The participants praised Croatia and Albania’s membership in NATO as a clear example that the reforms and the political will to implement them are crucial in achieving the objectives of the Euro-Atlantic integration of the region.
Participants also noted the clear Europeanization of the region is a necessity and with a resolution to deepen reforms in these countries.
Visa liberalization by the end of 2010 for some Western Balkan countries was suggested as an important objective on the way to European integration of these countries.
The participants also discussed a number of concrete joint projects in the area of regional infrastructure, energy and environment.
Basha also met with Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and also Robert Kuper, General Director of the Secretariat of the European Council, briefing them about the performance of the electoral process in Albania.
The group praised the election process as a test of maturity of the political forces in Albania, said a statement from the Albanian foreign ministry.
Basha also told him about the process of forming the new governing coalition and its fundamental goal, the country’s European integration. Basha reaffirmed Albania’s determination to move ahead with all the necessary reforms for the European integration of Albania. Bildt assured Basha that the Swedish presidency will support the review of Albania’s application for candidate status it made at the end of April as soon as possible.
Bildt also said that Sweden supports the conclusion, without delay, of the process of visa liberalization in the Schengen zone for Albanian citizens.
During the meeting Basha also met and talked with a number of counterparts and senior officials attending the summit like those from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Croatia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Canadian Secretary of State, as well as the Prime Ministers of Croatia, Kosovo and Montenegro.
