Meta travels to Latin America to lobby for Kosovo

TIRANA, Aug 31 – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ilir Meta started a tour of official visits to some Central American states marking the first visits ever by an Albanian Foreign Minister in bilateral relations with these countries.
Meta was supposed to visit Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, with a view to foster the political and diplomatic dialogue with them. It is thought the visit will bring concrete results in areas of mutual benefit; likewise, it will help establish a wider base of cooperation, highlighting the economic, cultural and other areas.
A very important aspect of this visit will be lobbying for new recognitions of Kosovo, following the Advisory Opinion by the International Court of Justice as well as preparations for the start of proceedings of the 65th Session of the UN General Assembly, Albanian officials say.
In Guatemala Meta was officially received by his counterpart Haroldo Rodas Melgar.
Both showed their high appreciation for the significance of the visit as a very important moment, since this is the first visit ever by an Albanian high official in this country and in the region.
Meta briefed his Guatemala counterpart with the developments in Albania and in the region, particularly with the integration processes for NATO accession and the steps towards European integration. Meta stated the importance that Albania pays to the cultivation of good relations of cooperation with all the countries worldwide as an important contribution to peace and to the mutual increase of the level of understanding and exchanges.
Meta emphasized the importance that Albania attaches to its relations with the Central American region and its application to gain the Observer Status to the Organization of American States, which was highly appreciated by Guatemala’s Foreign Minister, who assured for his country’s support in this regard.
Meta and his counterpart agreed to sign soon a Protocol of Cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries, to step up their cooperation in the context of international organizations and on the exchange of candidacies in the UN system. It was also agreed to work on an agreement on lifting visas for diplomatic and service passports, on another agreement in the field of economy and trade exchanges and on the mutual nomination of honorary counsels in both countries.
The Guatemala foreign minister praised the constructive role of Albania’s foreign policy and its new level of opening to the world. He stressed that a new and mutually advantageous level of cooperation may be established between Albania and the common institutions of Central American States.
Meta introduced his Guatemala’s counterpart with the latest developments in Kosovo in the aftermath of rendering the Advisory Opinion by the International Court of Justice, which considered the proclamation of independence of Kosovo in accordance with international law and the UN Security Council Resolution 1244. He asked the Guatemala side the re-assessment of its own position in this regard, as an act which would serve the consolidation of peace and stability in the region of the Balkans.