Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj attended the Conference of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Western Balkans Fund. This Conference was held in Warsaw in the framework of Kosovo Chairmanship-in-Office.

In his speech, Acting Minister Cakaj congratulated the Kosovo authorities on their job and commitment during the Fund’s Chairmanship.

Likewise, Cakaj considered that Albania’s active participation in this organisation stands as testimony to its constant contribution to the region. Regional cooperation is an important component to help accelerate the integration of the Western Balkans countries into Europe, Cakaj said.

Further on, Acting Minister Cakaj pointed out that, as the host country for the Western Balkans Fund and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office, Albania has been committed to make sure that both these important bodies contribute to the development of good neighbourly relations, the interconnection among the civil societies, the increased cultural and human exchanges, and the strengthening of security and stability across the region.

The Conference also approved the regional projects in the framework of the Western Balkans Fund 2nd Call. Four winning projects were awarded to Albania, as well as to every member country of the Fund.

In the course of the Conference, it was underlined that the Western Balkans Fund is already becoming ever more consolidated as an important mechanism having an ever-increasing impact on the strengthening of regional cooperation, and the building of new bridges of trust among the societies and countries in the region.

Cakaj extended his thanks to the Visegrád Group countries for their support for the setting up and functioning of the Western Balkans Fund, and reiterated the request that such cooperation should be continued in the future, as well. Further on, he again called for financial support to be provided to the Fund by the European partners, various donors, and the European Union in particular.