Meta says Tirana set for a stabilizing role in the Balkans

TIRANA, March 29 – Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ilir Meta said Albania was committed to its role as a stabilizing force in Southeast Europe.
In an interview with SETimes, Meta said that Albanian foreign policy was respected for helping bring stability to the region.
“Albania is determined to strengthen its stabilizing and moderator role in the region, as a NATO member country, which adds more of its responsibilities to the peace and the security in the regionŠ[Albania] wants to become an EU member as soon as possible, but despite the rhythm and the quality of the internal reforms, it also depends a lot on the further improvement of some regional relations, which are still tense,” he said.
He said on Serbia-Kosovo ties, that, “These relations should further improve towards the Kosovo Serbs, especially in the north, enabling them to be involved in different institutions and contributing also to their security and prosperity.”
He added that it was important to find a solution for the FYROM name issue with Greece.
“The improvement of the rights of the Albanians in the Preshevo Valley remains important for us, not only as an ethnic issue, but also as a problem of a regional character — the resolution of which would indirectly help the inter ethnic atmosphere in Kosovo.”
On the ties with Kosovo he said they would continue to extend in all fields.
Albania also supports the realization of a European Kosovo.
Meta said Tirana aimed at making its foreign policy more active and to enrich it with new developments, especially with regard to Serbia.
“My last visit in Belgrade had a special importance. It was really the first visit by an Albanian government member since the secession of Montenegro and the formation of the Republic of Serbia. It was the first visit after the proclamation of Kosovo independence. It was very important in terms of meeting the Albanian ethnic minority in Preshevo Valley, the first visit of this kind in the history of the relations between Albania and Serbia.”
Albania became a NATO member last year.
“Albania has more responsibilities now, including additional responsibilities in Afghanistan. We will fulfill all our obligations that come from our membership in the Alliance.”
On the EU membership, Meta said that would be a longer process. “It will take time for Albania to fulfill all criteria and standards, and the EU should also show its readiness to welcome new members, including Albania in the future.”