The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhaçka, participated in the informal meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the EU member states with the Foreign Ministers of the Western Balkan countries, within the framework of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, in Brussels.

Minister Xhaçka emphasized the role of the European integration process in ensuring peace, prosperity and regional stability and beyond and called to maintain the momentum achieved in 2022, as well as expressing expectations for the advancement of this process throughout 2023.

“I expressed my appreciation for the revitalization of the expansion process. From our point of view, this means first progress in the negotiation process, opening this year the negotiations for the first group of chapters. Second, stability requires economic growth in our countries. The reforms that Albania has undertaken are key to economic growth, but we need significant support from the EU. Thirdly, I asked for support for strengthening our capacities to face the challenges of the times we are living in, especially cyber protection”, said the Albanian chief diplomat after the meeting.

In response to the concern raised by the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dendias, Minister Xhaçka asked him to closely monitor the developments around them, allowing at the same time the Albanian judicial system to fulfill their duty without external pressures.

“I expressed to him our sincere wish that despite the different views on the Beleri issue, we can continue our friendly cooperation. Colleague Dendias presented his position and I made our position very clear that this is neither a political issue nor a human rights issue. We are dealing with a case that belongs to the judicial system and where there is no place for political influences from inside and outside Albania. For the independence of the judiciary, we have seriously invested, as the EU and its member countries have also invested,” she said.

In the focus of the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the EU member states with the Foreign Ministers of the WB countries were issues such as Russian aggression in Ukraine, regional cooperation, European integration, security issues, etc.