The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminita Odobescu, declared on Wednesday that she discussed with her Albanian counterpart, Igli Hasani, about supporting the European path of the country in the Western Balkans, but also about the retrocession of the Iorga House in Saranda.

„I am confident that the process of returning the ‘Iorga’ House in Saranda to the Romanian state will be completed as soon as possible. I particularly appreciate the openness and support shown by Minister Asani regarding this element of great historical and symbolic value for Romania,” said the head of the Romanian diplomacy, in a joint press statement.

She also emphasized the „principled and firm” support for Albania’s European path and Romania’s willingness to exchange expertise in this field.

At the same time, she mentioned the bilateral agreement on social security and the launch of direct Bucharest-Tirana flights.

„We encourage academic mobility, including through scholarship programs offered by the Romanian Government and respectively by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” said Odobescu. Shee also highlighted „the importance that Romania attaches to the ethnic, cultural and linguistic identity of the Aromanian national minority in Albania”.

The two ministers signed the Memorandum of Understanding on diplomatic training, which provides an additional framework for the exchange of expertise in the field.

„We will continue to actively implement the Action Plan for the period 2024-2025 and an example of this is the Memorandum of Understanding on diplomatic training, which I signed earlier with the [Albanian] minister,” said Luminita Odobescu.

In his turn, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, Igli Hasani, recalled the fact that „Romania and Albania are NATO members and partners on the way to European integration”. Moreover, he showed that the subject of European integration is „an important pillar” of the bilateral relationship.

Regarding the security situation, he appreciated that Russia’s war against Ukraine is a threat to the region.

„We continue to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” said Igli Hasani.

AGERPRES