Greek, Italian leaders expected to visit Albania

TIRANA, Oct. 2 – Key foreign leaders are expected to visit Albania in the next few weeks as the country’s new government starts work to implement its regional and international goals.
New Prime Minister Edi Rama, of the Socialist-led governing coalition, has himself made a series of visits abroad during his first days in office. He started in neighboring Kosovo and followed with visits to Brussels, where he met with European Union and NATO leaders. He then visited the United States and the United Nations headquarters trying to introduce himself in the post and urge countries and international organizations keep an eye on Albania.
Rama also visited Athens and Rome just before he got the formal parliament approval in the post.
But now Rama will be hosting several foreign visitors. In the highest visits in a long time, Greek President Karolos Papoulias and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos who will pay visits to Tirana in the coming weeks. The neighboring country’s media writes that Rama’s election has raised hopes for an improvement in formerly stagnant bilateral ties. Venizelos is scheduled to visit the Albanian capital on Oct. 14, while Papoulias’ visit is expected to take place in November.
Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino has also said she will visit Albania in the first half of October.
The two countries have always been interested in developments in Albania. More than one million Albanians reside in these two countries since they fled economic hardship in Albania after the fall of the former communist regime.