TIRANA, September 8 – Albania and Italy are two friendly countries with early and stable ties over the centuries with proximity not just geographical, but primarily historical, cultural, spiritual and human, said President Bajram Begaj on Thursday in a joint press conference with the visiting Italian President, Sergio Mattarella, who is on a 2-day official visit to Albania.
“We talked with President Mattarella about the importance of continuing Italian support, both on the political and technical level in fulfilling the obligations for membership and accelerating the EU integration process,” said Begaj, who noted that Italy is a strategic partner of Albania and the first trading partner.
Begaj said that Albania and Italy cooperate in a number of regional and international initiatives – Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, CEI, Berlin Process and other regional initiatives.
Begaj also spoke with the Italian president about the situation in the region and Kosovo-Serbia relations.
Also, Begaj informed that with his Italian counterpart he shared the common determination that our two countries will continue to increase cooperation in the field of defense and remain contributors to peace and security in the world and condemn any aggression or military intervention aimed at enslaving free peoples.
In the meantime, Mattarella was also received by PM Edi Rama who assessed that Italy has been and will remain a friend and key partner of Albania, on the path of economic development, as well as a firm supporter of its European integration. /Argumentum.al
