TIRANA, Feb.16 – Albania will have a new ambassador to Italy as the current ambassador’s term in office has ended. Anila Bitri will serve as Albania’s new ambassador to Italy after her candidature has been decreed by President Bujar Nishani. Bitri will be replacing Neritan Ceka, a renowned professor and politician, whose term in office as Albanian ambassador to Rome had expired.
Bitri, a PhD in history, has a long career in the Albanian diplomatic service. Currently, she holds the position of director of the Diplomatic Academy in the Foreign Ministry. Previously, she has served as the Albanian ambassador to Spain, the longest-serving Albanian top diplomat in the history of bilateral relations. Prior to that, Bitri has also served as honorary consul in Spain and has been granted the Order of Isabella the Catholic in recognition of her service.
Bitri has listed as a priority of her work as ambassador the continuation of good relations between Albania and Italy as well as the establishment of an Albanian institute of culture in Rome. Italy is Albania’s key trading partner and a staunch supporter of Albania’s Euro-Atlantic integration. Italy is also home to a large community of Albanian immigrants estimated to be around half a million.
In addition to decreeing Albania’s new ambassador to Italy, President Bujar Nishani also decreed Saimir Bala as the new ambassador to Kuwait, and Gent Gazheli as Albanian ambassador to Turkey, which is another strategic partner of Albania. Gazheli’s controversial candidature was contested by the opposition in the foreign committee citing lack of diplomatic experience given the importance of the post. Gazheli, a Socialist Party accountant and a former director of the Directorate for the Prevention of Money Laundering, has faced accusations by the opposition in the past.
