Tirana to try Slovak success story in the integration process

TIRANA, Jan. 23 – Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha thanked Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak for the aid after the devastating floods at the beginning of this year with a humanitarian shipment of more than 100,000 euros.
Lajcak made a two-day visit to Tirana discussing further enhancement of the Slovak-Albanian contacts.
He also took part in the opening of the new Slovak embassy in the Albanian capital.
“I believe that this visit will launch a more intense cooperation because even though there are no open issues between our countries, our relations lack intensity,” said Lajcak, who met with his Albanian counterpart Ilir Meta, Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli, Prime Minister Sali Berisha and President Bamir Topi.
Lajcak offered Slovak experience and readiness to help Albania in its pre-accession process into the European Union.
Berisha considered Slovakia as a convincing example of successful management of the integration tasks, which therefore, from his point of view, represents an inspiration for Albania.
Both coutnries agreed to promote with a new intensity the relations between them like proceeding soon with the signature of the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Foreign Investments.
Upon consideration of Albania’s moderate policy in the region, Lajcak said there were no plans from Bratislava to review its position on the recognition of the new state of Kosovo.
“For the time being I do not see any reason for a change. Meanwhile, I want to stress that Slovakia supports all initiatives and measures for political stability and economic development in all the Western Balkan countries, including Kosovo. We have our mission in Pristine, our troops in KFOR and in the EULEX mission. But our position should not be seen as a hostile act against Kosovo, but a position in respect of the principles of international law,” he said.