‘Today, Albania intends to convey a clear message of friendship to all our partners of the Mediterranean Sea.’ This statement was made by the Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj today at the opening of the OSCE Mediterranean Conference held in Tirana,  under the Albanian chairmanship of the Mediterranean Contact Group, in which 57 Member States, as well as the Mediterranean countries (Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia) are taking part.

Having highlighted the focus for the Conference including the 25-year long experience of OSCE partnership with the Mediterranean countries, Acting Minister Cakaj dwelt on the importance of the dialogue, the rising to shared challenges, and the identification of opportunities for cooperation.

‘This year, and throughout the Albanian chairmanship overall, our intention will be to keep the Mediterranean high on the OSCE agenda, and put due focus into it,’ Acting Minister Cakaj said.

He expressed confidence that the intention is to take advantage of the possibilities to write another chapter of Mediterranean cooperation. ‘As partners facing shared challenges, our only other alternative is to develop a shared vision. We want to form a Mediterranean Partnership based on the principles of greater involvement and shared responsibilities,’ the Acting Minister pointed out.