Switzerland to continue aid to Albania

TIRANA, July 5 – The Swiss Cooperation Office for Albania has presented its new strategy to be implemented during 2010-2014 period, aiming to further support for economic and social development in Albania, the SCO reported.
“Albania is a country of priority for Swiss Cooperation. Our contribution amounts to about 40 million euro of non-refundable funds,” Swiss Ambassador, Yvana Enzler, said during the presentation of the strategy.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ilir Meta said that “the strategy will have an important impact for supporting economic and social development in Albania, taking into account its full compliance with our government priorities, documented also in the National Strategy for Development and Integration for 2007-2013 periods.”
Switzerland has been supporting Albania’s transition since 1992, and Albania became a priority country for Swiss technical and financial assistance in 1995. Since 1997, Switzerland has a cooperation office in Tirana. Swiss officials said this strategy stands as a renewed Swiss commitment to support Albania in its further efforts to consolidate the democratic system plus the observance of fundamental human rights and freedoms, as well as to increase economic development.