The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ditmir Bushati, held a meeting with the Italian Foreign Minister and International Co-operation, Enzo Moavero Milanesi, in the framework of his official visit to Tirana. Both interlocutors reconfirmed friendly relations, traditionally very good and with positive progress over the years between countries.

Minister Bushati stressed that the strategic partnership between the two countries is a guarantee of greater and more comprehensive cooperation both in the bilateral aspect, especially in economic and trade, and in regional and global developments.

Minister Bushati praised Italy’s support and lobbying position for opening negotiations with the EU in June 2019, support which comes as a result of reading concrete results in the reforms undertaken by the Albanian government.

In addition, Minister Bushati thanked the Italian counterpart for supporting Albania in lobbying for taking over the OSCE Presidency in 2020 and expressed the commitment to work closely within the OSCE Troika. He expressed his gratitude to Italy for the support it will provide at the Contact Group conduct for the Mediterranean in 2019, the OSCE Chairmanship in 2020 and the Asian Contact Group in 2021.

Minister Bushati expressed optimism for further support and reconciliation of joint actions to secure Albania’s position as a temporary member to the UN Security Council for the period 2022-2023. Italy remains our first trading partner and one of the most important  donor countries. The economic and trade cooperation between Albania and Italy has reached a significant level confirming Albania as a strategic partner for Italian entrepreneurship and an entry door for the Western Balkans market.

The meeting underlined the need for a qualitative increase and new impetus to strengthen economic cooperation in order to enhance such cooperation at the level of political cooperation, use of the potential to strengthen trade exchanges, economic cooperation, and promotion of investment. In this context, the parties emphasized the importance of cooperation in the field of energy, tourism, environment, etc.

During the discussion, it was also stressed that the Western Balkans region should have a clear future in the European Union and that the integration and co-operation between these countries remains as much important. The interlocutors noted the important role of Albania and the Albanian factor in terms of stability, security and peace in the Western Balkans region.

The Arbëreshë, the Albanian community after the 90s and the presence of many Italian citizens in Albania represent the bridges and foundations of friendship and multiple connections between the two nations, and for which work must be carried out in order to maintain national identity, full integration in the economic, social, cultural, political, and intellectual reality.

 

Joint press conference by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati and the Italian counterpart Enzo Moavero Milanesi

Speech by Minister Bushati

Good morning everyone,

It was really a pleasure for me today to welcome in Tirana the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, my colleague and friend Enzo Moavero, with whom we have had a cooperation, an excellent one I would say, not only in the interstate plan, since Albania considers Italy as a strategic partner country, our gateway to European Union membership, but also in the human aspect, starting with the meeting that took place in June last year from EU member states as the European Union was considering Albania’s case for launching membership talks, the Mediterranean crisis, where Albania cooperated with friendly Italy, giving the possibility, in principle, to a refugee group to shelter in Albania, as they were spending difficult times in the Mediterranean. Our cooperation has been strengthened within NATO and, moreover, I would say, within the framework of the OSCE.

On behalf of the Albanian Government, on behalf of the Albanian institutions and people, I would like to thank my friend, the Italian Foreign Minister, Moavero, for all the support that he has given to Albania to take the lead of the OSCE chairmanship, while giving us at the same time the opportunity to learn from the precious Italian experience, being part of the OSCE Troika, because for Albania it will be the first time, it will be an excellent opportunity to test our diplomatic, political, interactive  capacities not only with Italy and Slovakia as part of the Troika, but also with other countries which in many cases may have very different judgments and opinions from our country.

Furthermore, today I would like to express my gratitude to Minister Moavero, the friendly Italy, for the consistent support they have given to Albania in the European integration process.

Once more, I would like to remind our citizens that Italy was one of the country’s forerunners in June last year, in support of a decision for the immediate launch of membership talks because at the end of the day it is in the interest of the European Union and not just Albania, the launch of this process as soon as possible. Today I also received support and was assured that Italy will continue to support the initiative for the start of membership talks by 2019.

For us, in spite of the difficulties faced by the European Union and the European integration process, Europe is an ideal, Europe is a destination and Europe is our need to be reformed internally and to further enhance the Albanian economy to build more democratic stability in the region and the Mediterranean.

In addition, we have an excellent cooperation with Italy also within the framework of the European Central Initiative and we will continue to synchronize our efforts and our initiatives to project more democratic stability, more prosperity in the Balkans and in the Mediterranean. It is a pleasure and I cannot hide the fact that Minister Moavero did not neglect the tradition set by the neighbouring state, the neighbouring friend, Italy, to start the visit to the Western Balkan countries from Tirana.

You may easily consider Albania your country, your family or your second state in this regard and, in the end, allow me dear Enzo to thank heartily the work of the two ambassadors, the Italian Ambassador in Albania and our Ambassador in Italy because as we entered in 2019, we have made very positive steps regarding the facilitation of consular procedures, reduction of a number of documents that were needed until the year we left behind, which will certainly help the Albanian citizens, the Albanian community living in Italy and I hope that, on the other hand, we will have the possibility to continue to offer to those citizens, who are considered as in an Italian territory in Albania or Italians living in Albania, facilities to invest in Albania.

Thank you one more time.

 

Speech by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Enzo Moavero Milanesi

Dear Minister,

Dear Friend,

It was a great pleasure, besides very interesting and stimulating our meeting, held in Tirana and exactly in the atmosphere you reminded us here. The relations between Albania and Italy have deep roots in history. Let us recall that there are Albanian communities in Italy of hundreds of hundreds of years that have maintained their traditions, language and culture and consistently are part of our reality.

Two countries by the same seas – Ionian and Adriatic – hence, they are linked by geography, history, culture and have strong economic and trade relations nowadays, they are linked and I want to re-emphasize from the bottom of my heart, from the common presence of important international organizations, the UN, NATO and OSCE, which Italy chaired in 2018 and Albania will take over the presidency in 2020, during these months in 2019 we will be part of the Troika, in function of the future Presidency of Albania.

We will work together for an international association, for an international organization that has that great value to get together at a table, different countries, as we say from Toronto to Vladivostok, countries that often have communication difficulties. As we have seen in Milan, in the ministerial, these countries may sit at the same table and have fruitful communication. This was a very important experience and Albania will have the great opportunity to chair it in 2020.

Together we share the framework of the so-called Central European Initiative that has to do with the central European area and the Balkans, which will be an important opportunity for dialogue, joint action, analysis of issues pertaining to countries that share the perspective of the Central and Eastern Mediterranean. An area that is very sensitive, very important from a political point of view, unfortunately due to conflicts, and important from the economic and commercial point of view. The connections we have from this point of the Mediterranean, from the Suez Canal, essential for exchanges in a globalized world. Therefore I consider it important to declare that Italy, which has the presidency of the Central European Initiative for 2019, will hold a ministerial in Trieste in June. A city close to the Balkans and Albania. I wanted to give this notice from Tirana, not from Rome, as a sign of friendship between the two countries.

With my friend Bushati we have worked very well together. We have had frequent meetings within the framework of NATO, UN and OSCE. I would like to emphasize that we have had excellent work relations, excellent at the highest level. I have always admired the Minister’s ability to cope with complex problems and actions, especially in the context of the current discussion at the European Union level, on the decision to open negotiations for Albania. We have important bilateral relations and share the same vision, the same position within multilateral relations. As far as bilateral relations are concerned, I would like to emphasize two, the economic and cultural profiles.

Many Albanian students study in Italy. Since the Italian language is the fourth most studied language in the world, there is a cultural interest in the knowledge of Italian language. So, we see with great interest the cooperation in the field of education, and beyond. I often say that culture has the privilege of speaking to hearts. Where economy and commerce speak with “brains”, culture speaks with heart. The heart that dictates feelings, dictates friendship.

It is the heart that has connected us personally, but also Albanians and Italians.

Questions from journalists

Question: Good afternoon. A question for the Italian Minister. Mr. Minister, I would like to know what support Italy may provide for Albania within the OSCE Troika. And a question to Minister Bushati, if I’m allowed to go a bit out of the scope of this meeting, but that is related to diplomacy. Regarding the situation created, how do you think it will affect your successor, how much do you think it affects the priorities of Albanian foreign policy? How much can it harm them? Thank you.

 Minister Milanesi: The answer is simple. We have had a very important experience during 2018, which is divided between the two successive governments after last year’s elections and we have strongly supported, we have aspired and propagandized that the chairmanship for 2020 be taken from Albania. We have done this in the spirit of a continuation of the actions and as a result of what we have been trying to plant during the presidency in 2018, and we hope to receive fruit during Albania’s presidency in 2020. The OSCE is a very important organization; it is an organization that makes it possible to alter strong discussions around tables, in the absence of which situations would get worse in conflicts. Therefore, Albania has a very important task and we will give the maximum assistance on the basis of everything we have learned this year during the Italian presidency.

Minister Bushati: Thank you. I just wanted to add something relating the OSCE, based on what Minister Moavero said that 2019 will also be an important year for us because Albania will lead the Mediterranean Group within the organization and this will be Albania’s main role in the Troika and at the same time it will be prepared to take over the organization’s chairmanship in 2020. That is to say, it has started the preliminary work regarding not only the priorities and activities that will accompany the priorities of Albania whether in the Troika or in the organization’s conduct, but also in accommodating the interests and needs that may have different states throughout the trio where we will be the leaders.

In this context, allow me once again to thank Italy firstly for the support it has given us, because the role of the organization’s chair is a special role and if it were not the Italian determination there would be no Albanian chairmanship in 2020 and secondly in the Mediterranean for me it is fortunate that we will again have the support of Italy as an experienced country with its foreign policy in the Mediterranean, which means that even the share of human resources, activities or instruments and initiatives that may be promoted throughout 2019 in the Mediterranean, in one way or another, for us will also have the support of Italy.

As for the question addressed to me on domestic political developments, I have respect for all of you, for you personally as a journalist. I set a principle the first day that I entered this office that, when there are foreign friends, not to speak Albanian-Albanian for our problems. I know that some of you, including what I understood from the communication you had with the press office, are interested. After finishing this communication together with my friend Moavero, I will come back to respond to the concern you have raised.

Question: Looking at your CV, you have previously worked in the Guardia di Finanza and in the European Commission. One of the main criteria required by Albania is the fight against organized crime and corruption. With your background, how likely is it to receive the invitation and has Albania met all the criteria for opening negotiations in June?

Minister Milanesi: The fight against corruption represents a very serious wound for all societies and today it is aggravated in some directions by the technological revolution as well. Corruption is introduced as a tumour in society, so fighting against it represents a common objective for all countries.

In the framework of the EU this is a topic that is often dealt with; even within the framework of the OSCE it has been an important topic. An Italian lawyer has been appointed a few days ago, along with the Slovak OSCE president; they have been working to contribute to the fight against corruption in order to understand how corruption may be faced at international level. States alone have no full guarantee to successfully fight against such wound.

It is important that we understand that the fight against corruption is a costly commitment of governments and increasingly more international networks are being established to fight corruption. It’s an old wound, but we shall not stop fighting. I am convinced that in Albania, justice and correctness will prevail.

Question: And a question for Minister Bushati. It is a question about the internal situation. I want to quote a statement you have made about the New Year, when, inter alia you wrote: “Albanians, wherever they are in the region, even along the 2018 storms, showed that they remain the most stable Pro Euro-Atlantic factor, refusing at the same time to establish historic achievements as collateral since the fall of the iron curtain.” What are these collaterals Mr. Minister?

 Minister Bushati: Albanians have lived for a long time isolated and on the other hand, we must say that particularly after the iron fall, the international order has been in favour of Albania and Albanians. I recall here Albania’s membership in a number of organizations culminating in Albania’s NATO membership. I want to remember the independence of Kosovo, the decision of the International Court of Justice and the fact that most of the democratic countries in the world know it.

Likewise, the efforts of Albanians in the neighbouring country Macedonia which marked another progress by decreeing or signing the law on the use of languages. I could say the same for the Albanians of Montenegro, as I would like to say for the Albanians who live in the Presheva Valley in Serbia, which means that the only way for Albania and Albanians is Europe.

Europe is the ideal, Europe is the project, Europe is what Ismail Kadare rightly says: “The only natural state of Albanians”. And when I say that we cannot put our achievements into collateral, I have in mind the fact that Europe itself as a project, passes through stormy hurricanes, often difficult, is put in question, but I hope that this should make us feel in solidarity, more aware for the great burden of the hardships we will face in order to achieve this objective, which is a nationwide objective.

Thank you.