Meta sets EU, region as diplomacy’s priority

TIRANA, Nov 1 – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ilir Meta said in an interview to Top Channel private television station that Albania’s foreign policy had priorities with the region, the EU and particularly on Kosovo.
Meta said that the top priority of the foreign policy after the country’s NATO membership was “without any doubt Albania’s EU membership, which is also a major challenge and a process with a number of steps to be taken; it should be first of all accompanied with domestic reforms.”
The minister said that such a process should be also supported by a very active and co-operating policy with all European Union countries; but what is more important, through a very active and cooperative policy with all neighboring countries in the region, since the regional approach is an important dimension of each country’s integration.
Albania’s policy is very important for the progress of peace, stability and integration of the entire region.
He also said that despite being a NATO member that did not mean its commitments were over.
“We feel more responsible to contribute to all major challenges that the Alliance has, not only in the region of our continent, but throughout the world.”
Albania is engaged in additional commitments in increasing its presence in Afghanistan.
The greatest contribution that Albania can give remains the strengthening of security and stability in our region, he said, adding that Albania has a key role to play for the security of the Balkans, Europe and the Mediterranean.
The minister said that in the short term, visa liberalization with the European Union remained the major priority, he said, satisfied with the government commitment to that goal.
“I believe this is a challenge that all of us, together with Albanian citizens will win next year.”
Meta said that Tirana’s priorities first included “countries that are closer to Albania, countries that have more direct interests with peace, security, stability in our region.”
Relations with Italy and Greece will be very important and strategic for both countries, because they are EU and NATO member countries with Albania being also a NATO member state. When discussing the Albanian issue or when discussing the Western Balkan issues there is a greater deal of interest on the part of Italy or Greece as compared to other countries that are at a greater distance.
“It is clear that these two countries have day to day interests.”
With regard to other EU countries, relations with Germany remain very important; not only because Germany is a partner that has been extraordinarily helpful contributing in terms of economic, financial and technical cooperation, but also since Germany’s weight on European issues is very large. Relations with France and the UK are equally important as well as relations with Spain. The same applies to the relations with Austria. It is likewise worth mentioning the relations with the Visegrad countries, the minister said.
With regard to the region, relations with each country there represent a priority.
Meta singled out relations with Serbia, adding that Albania and Serbia were key countries for the progress of peace, stability, integration and prosperity in the region.
Tirana expected Belgrade to also accept and respect Kosovo as a new country. He said he would be committed to further contribute to urging Serbia accept that “and given the fact that Kosovo’s issue, on which our two positions are essentially different is not a bilateral issue; it is a major international issue.”
“Our bilateral relations should not only serve mutual interests, but at the same time they should contribute to a very positive image for the region for the EU and the other very important international actors.”
Meta also said that relations with Turkey remained very important and a priority, since Turkey was a state with a very important geo-strategic weight.
“It is common knowledge that relations with the USA are extremely important for us. ŠUSA is a strategic ally,” he said.
Meta said that Albania was aware of China’s growing role in the global politics and economy and it was determined to invest this positive tradition going on for decades between the two peoples and countries for a very good and more concrete future of these relations, especially in terms of economic and trade cooperation.
“We are desiring to have much better relations with Russia as well, since it is a very important country in the global policy.”
He also said special attention would be paid to other new countries, with which Tirana has had not so much known diplomatic traditions in the past, like India or Brazil.
The minister also said that Tirana had “very good relations with the Arab countries, which we shall promote further.”
“Naturally, every effort shall be made for Albania’s swiftest possible EU integration; not only as a goal, but as a means to introduce new standards in the life of each Albanian citizen.”
Albania shall continue to make all its efforts in support of the further recognition of the new Kosovo state, he said, as that would “help strengthening the stability of our region, whereby Kosovo remains a key element.”