Italian minister supports Albania’s integration efforts

TIRANA, Oct 27 – Italy will be a strong supporter to Tirana’s integration efforts into NATO and the European Union. That was the main conclusion coming out of the day-long visit of the Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini in Tirana Monday.
Frattini said that there was a “mutual interest” in that road that should continue with the reforms along the institutional framework.
During his one-day visit Frattini met with all top Albanian officials _ President Bamir Topi, Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli and his host counterpart Lulzim Basha.
He also held a speech at the annual meeting of the Albanian ambassadors held in Tirana.
The head of Italian diplomacy reminded that the Treaty of Lisbon made it clear that more steps forward should be taken.
“Do not expect the day when the European institutional process is completed but this country must, as is doing, make progress every day,” said Frattini.
The European perspective for Albania is “irreversible”, according to him.
Frattini reiterated Italy’s support on Albania’s membership into NATO saying his country would ratify the membership protocol within this year.
He said that Albania was expected to become a NATO member next year.
Frattini also stressed the bilateral economic cooperation ranging from energy industry to infrastructure.
Five bilateral agreements were signed during his visit, starting from the evaluation of the driving licenses, to the industrial park in Koplik given to an Italian company and the assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The foreign minister also announced that Italy would soon complete a new framework agreement for cooperation with Albania, including new sectors such as agriculture.
What made a ‘surprise’ or raised higher the Albanians’ hopes was his statement on free visas next year.
Frattini said he hoped that Albania would likely sign next year until June a new agreement with the European Union on visa liberation, which in this case means no need for a visa to Albanians.
The country is under a visa facilitation regime starting from January this year, something that favors different groups of students, professionals and others but not all the population.
During the visit there was also talked on possibilities of building nuclear reactors in Albania to supply energy to Italy, that is in much alternative energy resources.