Dear Nikola,

Dear Secretary General,

Dear Colleagues,

It is a pleasure to be here in Ohrid and I wanted to thank our hosts for their warm hospitality.

I am convinced that this gathering will contribute to further strengthen our cooperation, as I hope the Central European Initiative (CEI) will continue to be an efficient part of the existing range of instruments that aim at consolidating regional stability and security.

As the largest and oldest forum on regional intergovernmental cooperation in Europe, CEI can claim today a consolidated profile and a proven contribution to the EU enlargement process.

Over the years, CEI has become a trusted partner in the region, fully engaged and committed to provide project-oriented contributions to its Member States.

European integration of non-EU Member States should continue to be a priority for our organization.

Nevertheless CEI must also adapt its priorities to the recent impetus that key EU member states have helped to bring to South-East Europe through the so-called Berlin process.

In the aftermath of the Berlin Conference, and as we brace for the upcoming summit in Vienna, I believe that concepts such as “connectivity” and flagship projects related to infrastructure, energy, tourism, agriculture and mobility, must become part of CEI’s everyday work.

In our view, the Berlin Process should help trigger an enlargement policy reset, based on credible and predictable accession perspective.

And CEI can and must help in this regard.

To maintain the regional positive momentum we have been experiencing over the past year, joint regional efforts are crucial.

In this context we consider CEI as an important instrument to achieve regional integration, especially through the creation of synergies and the share of best practices among the existing macro-regional strategies: the Danube and the Adriatic-Ionian macro-regional strategy.

Dear Colleagues,

For the Government of Albania, regional cooperation and good neighborly relations are important pillars that guarantee peace, security and stability in the region, as preconditions for EU integration.

We are well aware that the security of each and every country is intertwined with the collective security of our region and beyond.

In this regard, it is in our collective interest that Macedonia deals in an efficient way with the actual political crisis, through democratic dialogue and based on European values.

As a NATO member state, Albania remains committed and supportive of Macedonia’s efforts towards Euro-Atlantic integration.

As it was outlined in the Wales Summit conclusions, it is our firm belief that Macedonia’s road towards  NATO goes through the full implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, and the respect of the rights of Albanians in Macedonia, as a state-building factor.

The Ohrid Agreement cannot be seen as a mere formality. Nor is it a matter of satisfying exclusively community-based political action.

It is a long term vision, founded on an authentic history of peaceful coexistence.

The fact that Ohrid was chosen to be the very place where the agreement could be reached and signed, is not a chance, nor a coincidence; it’s a challenge.

Indeed, Ohrid is a city from which we inherited the ancient vision of Justiniana Prima;

A junction where East and West would be united, not only through trade and exchanges, but also through the experience of common values, way of life, tolerance and understanding that resonated in the linguistic, ethnic and ritual composure of its inhabitants.

This was the heritage of Justinian’s dream, a final attempt at achieving cohesion through rule of law.

It is the dream of a Balkan legislator based on rule of law, diversity and equal treatment of all ethnic groups that must enjoy full rights of citizenship – the status civitatis.

Justinian’s dream is in fact very similar to what has inspired the European Union: “united in diversity”.

Dear colleagues,

Albania remains committed to achieve full EU membership, and is determined to further encourage and promote regional cooperation with the final objective of anchoring all Western Balkan countries in Euro-Atlantic waters.

Just two weeks ago, Albania concluded its chairmanship of the South East Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP).

Our chairmanship aimed at dynamizing the regional cooperation momentum by focusing on practical cooperation in the fields of security, good governance, anti-corruption, justice and home affairs and youth.

Throughout our chairmanship we have promoted the principle of all-inclusiveness in the regional cooperation processes.

With this in mind, I strongly believe that the time is ripe for CEI to be open to the new political realities, and welcome Kosova as a member.

Our common objectives have been formulated in the CEI Action Plan of 2014-2016 focusing on achieving knowledge-based societies, sustainable development and social inclusion.

Albania supports the Action Plan’s focus on promoting education and training for innovation, as well as economic growth and job creation for the socially disadvantaged groups.

The CEI Action Plan of 2014-2016 is close to the challenges our societies are facing, and Albania is pursuing its efforts to build a modernized information society, up to speed with the digital era.

We are committed to increase the visibility of CEI in Albania, and to work closely with all the stakeholders, in order to increase their ability to present eligible projects, funded by CEI.

By way of conclusion, I would like to express once again to our Macedonian colleagues, our full support for a successful term in office as the Chair of the Central European Initiative.

Thank you!