Italian official in Albania for talks; appeals for consensus in presidential elections

TIRANA, May 8 – Umberto Ranieri, the President of the Foreign Commission of the Italian parliament, has appealed to all political forces in Albania to find consensus in the election of the next president.
Ranieri held a two-day visit to the country to meet with top officials and political leaders.
Ranieri is the most senior official to be sent by the new Italian government to Albania.
Meeting on Albania’s integration efforts toward membership in the European Union and NATO were among the main items of discussion when Ranieri met with Prime Minister Sali Berisha, President Alfred Moisiu, Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli and also opposition leaders.
Kosova’s future independence and the progress of those negotiations were another topic of interest to both countries.
Ranieri spoke highly of Albania’s military contribution in Afghanistan and also of future cooperation with Italy on sending an army unit to Lebanon.
The Italian official also hailed an agreement on the return of jailed persons from each other’s country.
Italy is Albania’s main trading partner and also provides the highest levels of foreign investments in the country.