In the course of his official visit to Poland, Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Jacak Czaputowicz, to discuss further intensification of cooperation between the two countries, the European agenda for Albania and the Western Balkan countries, as well as coordination in the framework of regional and international organisations.

In this meeting, Acting Minister Cakaj thanked his counterpart for Poland’s unstinting support to Albania on the latter’s path to joining the European Union.

In the course of the meeting, both Ministers also appreciated the very good relations between the two countries, and the increased economic relations in tourism, and agreed to jointly undertake to identify mechanisms instrumental in exploring and developing unexploited potentials.

With the meeting being largely focused on the importance of the European integration of the Western Balkan region, the head of the Albanian diplomacy advised his counterpart of the progress of reforms effected in the framework of the European integration, and the meeting of conditions set by the European Council in June 2018.

Appreciating the reforms carried out by Albania, and in consideration of the recommendation given by the European Commission to launch negotiations with Albania, Minister Czaputowicz once again assured Acting Minister Cakaj of Poland’s strong advocacy of a positive decision to start talks with Albania in October 2019.

‘Albania’s expectations for opening the negotiations in October are based not around need for “favours,” but the credit due to it. Implementation of the justice reform, establishment of the new judicial bodies, and the tangible results achieved in the fight against organised crime and corruption constitute steps of paramount importance, made by no other country across the region,’ Acting Minister Cakaj stated.

Further on, in full agreement with each other, Acting Minister Cakaj and Minister Czaputowicz embraced the Commission’s considerations surrounding the strategically important enlargement process into the Western Balkans.

Dwelling on the multilateral agenda, Minister Czaputowicz congratulated the Government of Albania on its commitment to assume OSCE Chairmanship for 2020, as well as on Albania’s nomination for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for the period between 2022 and 2023. He assured Poland’s support and expertise for this ambitious agenda for Albania.

Further on, both Ministers took part in the opening ceremony of the 2^nd Tirana Conference, being a bilateral consultative forum through which Poland shares its experience so as to assist Albania on its path to integration.