
In the framework of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly, Minister Bushati attended the meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Western Balkan countries with the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, organized at the initiative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, Sebastian Kurtz.
The meeting was focused on commitments made by countries of the region in the field of infrastructure and energy, following the Paris Summit for the Western Balkans.
During his address, Minister Bushati dwelt on the progress of setting up the Western Balkans Fund office based in Tirana, as an important step confirming the increasing role of Albania with regard to foreign policy in the Western Balkans and regional cooperation process, in view of normalizing the political and economic relations’ climate between our countries.
Moreover, Minister Bushati focused on the establishment of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office, as a clear sign of political will and new vision for a peaceful region, in the spirit of understanding, tolerance and friendship, to promote reconciliation and cooperation and distance youth from phenomena of divisions, xenophobia and hate speech.
In view of security challenges currently facing the region and beyond, Minister Bushati underlined the increasing role and contribution of the WB in the continent’s security architecture, and the fact that addressing these challenges has highlighted the interdependence between Western Balkan countries and the EU in successfully addressing them.