TIRANA, April 17 – Hungary has donated 100,000 surgical masks and 5,000 medical protective suits to Albania to assist the country in the fight against COVID-19. The equipment was delivered to Albania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj by Hungarian foreign minister Pèter Szijjártó during his visit in Tirana on Friday.
During the meeting, both counterparts agreed that the EU decision to open negotiations with Albania, although delayed, was appropriate, as this decision is not only important for deepening internal reforms, but also for increasing the credibility of the European Union in the region.
Cakaj said that despite the current situation, Albania is prepared and ready to perform all technical and political tasks, which are required to further advance in the negotiation process, starting with the First Intergovernmental Conference.
On his part, Szijjártó stated that this was a Hungarian success as well, as it came under Hungarian commissioner for enlargement Olivér Várhelyi, after eleven years of failure by the European Commission.
The discussion also focused on the Joint Economic Commission between Albania and Hungary, which is expected to be developed as soon as the situation becomes more favorable, as an incentive for further deepening of economic cooperation between the two countries.
DP leader Lulzim Basha and former deputy Genc Pollo were among the officials who welcomed Minister Szijjártó in Tirana. During his meeting with the minister, Basha expressed gratitude towards Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Szijjártó for the donation of the PPE, while asking for additional help in the fight against COVID-19.
“I personally thanked Minister Szijjártó and asked him to look into the opportunity of helping Albania further, which today is facing a major economic crisis, where unemployment and the inability of citizens to provide for daily food increases every day,” Basha wrote.
Hungary is one of the few countries who have assisted Albania through donations of protective equipment. The he U.S. donated PPE to Albania last week and seeks to donate an additional 30 thousand testing kits to the country. Moreover, the EU has pledged 50 million euros to help Albania fight the coronavirus outbreak, of which 4 million is for immediate equipment and health support. The Chinese Embassy has also assisted by donating 1000 testing kits to Albania.
