President Klaus Iohannis reiterated on Tuesday his support for Albania’s European path, during a meeting with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the government of this country, Igli Hasani, whom he received at the Cotroceni Palace, on the occasion of Hasani’s official visit to Romania, informs the Presidential Administration.

Iohannis reconfirmed the support for the continuation of the expansion process on both geographical dimensions – the Western Balkans and the Eastern partners, based on its own merits regarding the advancement of the reform processes and reiterated the support for the effective launch of the accession negotiations of the Republic of Albania to the European Union, respectively Romania’s availability to provide assistance in this process.

The discussions focused on the traditional relations between the two states, the opportunities to diversify commercial exchanges, facilitated by the recent launch of direct flights Bucharest – Tirana, as well as the intensification of interpersonal relations, especially in the field of culture, education, but also in the tourism industry.

On the occasion of the meeting, aspects of the security agenda were also addressed, with an emphasis on cooperation within NATO. The President congratulated Albania on celebrating 15 years of NATO membership, after the historic moment represented by the Bucharest Summit in 2008, when Albania received the invitation to join the most important alliance in history.

The visit is taking place in an anniversary context, 30 years after the signing of the Treaty of Understanding, Cooperation and Good Neighborhood between Romania and the Republic of Albania (May 11, 1994, Bucharest) and 70 years after the establishment of Romanian-Albanian diplomatic relations at embassy level (June 30, 1954) and after marking, last year, the 110th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Romania and Albania.

AGERPRES