Moisiu visits Rome

TIRANA, Nov. 20 – Albanian president Alfred Moisiu held a two-day visit to neighboring Italy where he met with his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano and the Parliament Speaker Fausto Bertinotti. The visit did not start well with the place taking Moisiu to Ciampino was deviated to Fiumicino because of a bomb threat. “It is like our phone calls at the Petro Nini high school,” Moisiu joked with reporters who accompanied him. The two presidents highly evaluate the excellent relations between the two countries and expressed their joint will to intensify the ties in the future. Albanian immigrants wh9o live in Italy are an important factor to link the two countries. They are also added with a considerable number of Albanian students following studies in Italy. Albania’s integration into the European Union and NATO was another topic of discussion. Moisiu hoped that Italy would be among the first countries of the European Union that would ratify Albania’s Stabilization and Association Agreement it signed with the bloc in June. Moisiu also spoke about the Albanian government’s efforts to create a good climate for foreign investors and also urged Italian entrepreneurs to widen their presence and investment in Albania in such fields of joint interest like infrastructure and tourism. Napolitano expressed Italy’s goodwill and support to Albania’s integration efforts into the EU. He also repeated his country’s support in the economic sphere. Napolitano spoke about an intensification of the relations between the businesses of the two countries. He also appealed to the Albanian authorities to create the required legal basis for further increase. There was likely mentioned the case of the Italian petrolifera in the southwestern port city of Vlore which has yet to start despite the initial contract. Balkan developments and the Kosova final status was the other topic of discussion. There was mentioned a warmer climate of talks and relations in the region. Moisiu repeated Albania’s stand that a fast solution of the Kosova status would avoid the reactivization of the extremist elements from both sides there. Moisiu said that an independent, sovereign, multiethnic and democratic Kosova would serve regional peace and prosperity. Moisiu also met with Parliament Speaker Fausto Bertinotti discussing ways of strengthening the already very good relations between the two neighboring countries. Albania is Albania’s main economic partner with the greatest percentage of imports and exports made to and from this country. The president also took part at the opening of an exhibition named Friendship between Albania and Italy: past, present and future. Moisiu also met with important Italian businessmen who are holding their activity in Albania.