Full statement by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr. Igli Hasani
March 6, 2025 – Today, I have the pleasure of welcoming to Tirana my esteemed friend and colleague, Minister Jan Lipavský, and the accompanying delegation.
I would like to emphasize the excellent level of relations between Albania and the Czech Republic, as well as to emphasize the importance of the open and sincere political dialogue that we develop every day.
I would also like to express our deep gratitude for the unstinting support that the Czech Republic has provided and continues to provide to Albania in our process of integration into the European Union.
Our talks naturally focused on the areas of bilateral cooperation, including the economy, defense and security, as well as on recent developments in tourism, education, culture and other sectors of mutual interest.
Joint commitments and priorities within international organizations, of which both our countries are members, were also mentioned, and the dynamics of the Western Balkans region and beyond were also discussed.
A special fact that I would like to share today is the significant increase in tourism between Albania and the Czech Republic. Last year, over 110,000 Czech tourists visited Albania, which represents a 58% increase compared to 2023 and four times more than in 2019, before the pandemic. This trend is a testament to the success of cooperation in the field of tourism and an indicator of the common interest in promoting Albania as a sought-after tourist and cultural destination in Europe.
Without a doubt, an important part of our discussions was Albania’s progress towards the European Union. I would like to emphasize that Albania launched negotiations for EU membership in July 2022, during the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This is a historic moment for Albania, and in this context, Minister Lipavský reconfirmed the unwavering support of the Czech Republic in this process, offering us the necessary assistance and expertise.
Regarding the Russian aggression against Ukraine, we reiterated our unwavering support for the Ukrainian people in their just struggle to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. Our support, as two NATO member states, will continue unabated until a lasting peace is achieved, which will offer Ukraine the opportunity to build a secure and stable future in the community of democratic countries.
In conclusion, I would like to thank once again my friend, Minister Lipavský, for his visit to Tirana and express my personal commitment, but also to my colleagues at the MFA, for the further deepening of our relations, in the service of the interests of our two peoples and the development of the closest possible cooperation.
Dear Jan, thank you once again for your visit to Tirana!
