TIRANA, Feb. 16 – Croatia’s Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic made a visit to Tirana on Monday where she met with senior Albanian officials to discuss relations between the two countries.
Tirana considers relations with Croatia as a priority. Both countries joined NATO together in 2009. Croatia is already a European Union member while Albania was granted the candidate status last year and is now working to launch the membership negotiations.
Albanian and Croatian governments vowed to strengthen economic cooperation mainly related to the EU’s new push, the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, for the Western Balkans region, which mainly relates to energy and transport infrastructure including the European gas pipeline TAP.
Pusic met with Prime Minister Edi Rama and President Bujar Nishani, as well as her Albanian counterpart Ditmir Bushati.
“Relations between Albania and Croatia are a priority, not just for the sake of traditionally good relations and history, but also today when we should design some concrete projects and topics on which we will work together,” Nishani said after meeting with her. “Albania is committed to the partnership and regional cooperation, and we believe that the European path is the right path for all countries in this region. We can profit from your experience on that path.”
Rama discussed on the stages in the process of the European integration. Rama said that Tirana considered of importance the increase and more frequent communication with Croatia that has passed this experience.
Rama added that Croatia best understands the challenges faced by Albania on its EU path.
The meeting with Rama also focused on the construction of an Adriatic-Ionian Motorway and an Adriatic-Ionian gas pipeline as an extension of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline.
Bushati and Pusic also talked on the regional development and the stability there, including European and international development and challenges.
They both said that their countries close ties are of importance not only for both capitals but also for the region as a whole.
