Topi promotes Albania and Kosovo

TIRANA, May 11 – President Bamir Topi took part this week at the 4th conference of the least developed countries held in Istanbul, Turkey.
During the visit Topi also met with his Turkish counterpart and other participants at the international conference.
Topi exploited the conference to promote Albania and also lobby for more recognition on Kosovo.
Topi said that though his country is not part of the least developed countries it shares similar problems with this group of countries. Albania is considered as a low-middle income country.
“My country has supported and is supporting all of the initiatives and actions of the United Nations, that demand stable development, prosperity and the support of efforts of least developed countries towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals,” he said.
Topi hailed the progress in fighting poverty in this group of countries and urged the creation of new jobs, growth of agricultural production, improving the quality of education and social welfare as the primary objectives for them.
The United Nations Conference on climate change which was held in Copenhagen, agreed to undertake the necessary actions regarding the reduction of vulnerability and environmental protection for the least developed countries by approving that a good part of the fund of Copenhagen for environment and climate, would be dedicated to these countries.
“Our organization (United Nations) must be able to face challenges and stand up to all the hopeful aims,” he said.
Climate and energy are among the greatest issues of our time.
The energy challenge of Albania is closely related with the economic growth, population growth, higher standard of living and the completion of our aspiration towards the integration into the European family. He said that Tirana has taken several measures, like increasing the energy efficiency, repair and modernization of energy infrastructure, increasing energy sources, by conserving and improving the environment, which stand on the basis of the program for the development of the country. One of our objectives is increasing the number of energy sources, mainly those that are renewable energy.
Fight against poverty, analphabetism, child mortality, climate change and improvement of population health remain priorities of our country. Increasing prices of gas, bread crisis and the slowing of global economy because of financial crisis have brought in front of Albania new challenges, more complex and unforeseen in the achievement of Millennium Development Objectives. Albania has been affected very little by the economic and financial crisis of these late years.
The president said that Albania aimed at reducing poverty through concrete plans. Fight against poverty must constitute the primary goal for every country, he said. During 2008-2010 Tirana has brought out of poverty line about 400.000 Albanians and the main tools have been employment and then education.
Topi also said that Tirana “strongly practice a policy of moderation in the region, by carefully observing the political and economic situation in the western Balkans.”
He also said that “these common challenges are being faced by the new Republic of Kosova. The approval of the consensual resolution in the General Assembly of our Organization that welcomed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legitimacy of its independence definitely closed the matter of its status and territorial integrity. Thus, now it is the time to support and encourage this new Republic on its path towards development.”
“I would like to make an open call to all those countries that have not recognized the Republic of Kosova, to do that today. Kosova is recognized as an independent state by 75 countries members of the United Nations,” he appealed.
Topi said that the new reality established in Western Balkans, with independent Kosova, “has influenced positively in the establishment of peace and security in this region, as also in the new spirit of cooperation and prosperity, not just for the Balkans, but even more.”