Several foreign ambassadors finish terms, replacements set

TIRANA, Aug 31 – Helmuth Lohan, head of the EU delegation in Tirana, John L. Withers, U.S. ambassador, and Robert Bosch of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, have ended their term and are about the leave Albania as part of a normal rotation that will bring replacements in their positions.
In their final meetings in Albania, they praised the work of Albanian institutions and say they are convinced that European Union integration is a process that is confidently moving ahead.
Albania’s European integration is a joint objective for Albania and the European Union, Lohan said after meeting with Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli.
“I assure you of the EU’s maximum commitment to speed the integration of Albania in its structures,” said Lohan, who is wrapping up a four-year mandate in the country.
Albania, now a NATO member since last year, has set becoming a EU member as its main goal in the near future. The government and the institutions are working to fulfill the requirements for such a lengthy process, despite voices from EU member countries against a further enlargement.
They also urge the Albanian politicians to continue their efforts of getting mature and compromising along the main goals of their country’s steps.
They praise the population but also remind them to carefully check and balance the elected officials. They are confident Albania’s place is in the European bloc.
But they also add that Albania, its officials and politicians should do much more to get to the proper standards.
But the ambassadors of the main political facilitators are leaving the country when it is still in a political dispute that could likely have any negative impact unless resolved soon.