TIRANA, July 17 – Albanian Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha made a visit to Slovenia, where the Kosova issue was a main topic of discussion with his local counterpart, Dimitri Rupel.
Both countries said they support the proposed independence package of U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaaari and said that further delay of the status process could be a threat to stability in the region.
Albania’s integration into NATO and the European Union was another topic of interest in the talks.
Rupel assured Basha of Slovenia’s continuous support for the integration efforts into the international institutions.
Slovenia takes over the EU Presidency’s chairmanship in first half of 2008.
Albania is soon to open an embassy in Ljubljana.
Trade exchange between the two countries increased 26 percent in 2006 but both ministers said there is room for further increases within industries such as energy, transport, information technology, infrastructure, and others.
The two ministers also signed an agreement on the international transport of passengers and goods that could be a step in liberalizing this sector.
They also signed an agreement on cooperation and development.
