Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj received in a meeting the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Tomáš Petříček. The meeting was held in the framework of the visits the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Petříček is paying to countries across the region, including the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania. The meeting focussed on the bilateral relations, economic cooperation, the EU integration, cooperation in the framework of NATO, and the regional situation.

 

Both speakers reconfirmed the very good relations, marked by positive progress over the years, between the two countries, and agreed on the opening of a new chapter of cooperation between them.

 

Acting Minister Cakaj extended his thanks to his Czech counterpart on the reconfirmed support given by the Czech Republic for Albania’s integration into the European Union, and Albania’s obtaining of the OSCE Chairmanship, as well as for the regional cooperation.

 

The head of the Albanian diplomacy welcomed the role played by the Czech Republic inside the Visegrád Group, of which Presidency is held by the Slovak Republic, with its motto being ‘Dynamic Visegrád for Europe,’ and the support offered by the Czech Republic for the Western Balkans Fund established following the Visegrád International Fund.

 

Minister Petříček was positively impressed by the progress of reforms in Albania, and had words of appreciation and encouragement that all the steps made by the Government of Albania be taken all the way so as to ensure launching of negotiations with the EU in June 2019.

 

Just as before, Minister Petříček confirmed that the Czech Republic is willing to lobby at various levels for the purpose of delivering on this important step for Albania.

 

Both sides confirmed that the progress of Albania and North Macedonia in the integration processes is a positive signal for the region, as well as the very security of the EU and the enlargement process.

 

In the course of the meeting, the very good bilateral relations were welcomed, and an interest was taken in translating this excellent political cooperation into economic cooperation.

 

Appreciation was expressed for the concrete support the Czech Republic will be providing so as to assist Albania with the integration process, and in obtaining a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in the future, and willingness was expressed to take economic cooperation and investments in areas of common interest, including energy, tourism, agriculture, and so on, further ahead.