TIRANA TIMES – TIRANA, April 9
Working to launch an information campaign on the significance of the visa liberalization process, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the European Movement in Albania, held a conference titled “Visa Liberalization – What it really means?”.
Attending the Conference were Gazmend Turdiu, Albania’s Chief Negotiator for Visa Liberalization with the EU and Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry, Thomas Van Handel, Head of Political, Economic and Information Section of the Delegation of European Commission in Albania, Alexandra Stiglmayer, European Stability Initiative ( ESI ), Sanja Kostovska, Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM), Blerta Hoxha, Policy Researcher at EMA as well as representatives of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Tirana.
Turdiu pointed out that Albania is in the final steps of visa liberalization process; part of this process is also the commitment to inform all Albanian citizens on their relevant rights and obligations in the context of this process.
He emphasized that this shall be a well-organized and coordinated campaign by the Albanian Government, aimed at disseminating the information to each and every Albanian citizen, up to the country’s most remote areas. While welcoming and wishing that every Albanian would enjoy very soon the fruits of the visa free travel regime in the EU, he also called for maturity and respect towards the rights and liabilities introduced by visa liberalization.
Other participants involved in this process offered their opinions, sharing the view that it is moving to its final point and that cooperation among governmental and civil society structures shall continue to the point of the finalization of this important process.
Albania expects to get the visa free regime likely this summer after it has already fulfilled the requests set at the EU road map prepared individually for each western Balkan country.
Albania did not join Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia last year to get the visa-free regime. Together with Bosnia they were asked to further complete some technical reforms, basically on the border management.
