Political Dialogue: The Republic of Albania and the Republic of Greece have good neighborly relations, as two NATO member countries, with common vital interests, sharing the common view that these relations are of strategic importance in the region.
Despite the fact that diplomatic relations between Albania and Greece were officially restored on May 6, 1971, our relations with Greece date of much earlier time, with strong historical and human ties.
Greece supports and has officially expressed support for the process of Albania’s integration into the EU. Albania considers Greece a precious neighbor, but also a partner on its way to democracy, progress and European integration.
Both sides appreciate and are committed to handling, in compliance with international law, the internal legal framework and good neighborly relations, all the problems inherited from the distant or recent past and to find solutions accepted by the parties.
Both countries have continuously continued bilateral dialogue and cooperation. It is considered as indicative, the development of many bilateral meetings at different levels, where it was agreed to set a concrete cooperation agenda, as well as for the continuation of the good progress of working groups for various issues of mutual interest. Both sides are working to further the progress made over the past years in the framework of the bilateral mechanism.
The Greek minority in Albania and the large community of Albanian immigrants in Greece constitute strong bridges of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Albanians living in Greece represent the largest community of foreigners there, being an important contributing factor, not only in the life of that country, but also in our relations.
Considering the Greek minority as an added value of our country, Albania continues to be fully engaged in respect and protection of the rights of national minorities. Albania has significantly improved the legal framework of policies for the protection of minorities, adopting in October 2017 a specific law for their protection, based on international expertise, through a comprehensive consultation process, including representatives of the Greek minority in Albania.
Economic- commercial cooperation: Greece continues to be one of Albania’s most important economic partners. For years it has been at the top of the list of partners in trade and foreign direct investments. A significant part of the economic and financial activity of Albania has been oriented towards it, making the economies of both countries to be connected between them. Both countries have mutual interests in the development, deepening and expansion of cooperation in many areas of economic interest.
Economic Diplomacy in the Focus of Foreign Policy
As one of the priorities of foreign policy, economic diplomacy and the strengthening of its dimension, in the framework of economic cooperation with partner and strategic countries, in the service of economic development and strategic interests of the country, came as a need and demand of the time. and economic globalization in which influence and control through economic diplomacy has increased the role, strength and involvement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the entirety of external inter-state dialogue, going beyond trade and investments, to the resolution of international conflicts.
With a comprehensive agenda, economic diplomacy deals with issues related to economic and commercial relations, comprehensive bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation agreements, which facilitate exchanges between contracting parties, eliminate divergences, problems arising in state-to-state and business-to-business relations. state, trying to address correctly with better solutions, as well as harmonize standards in various economic, social, environmental, educational, cultural sectors.
For the realization of an active, marketing and pragmatist foreign policy, with a focus on the promotion of the country’s national interests, the promotion and attraction of foreign investments, as well as the need for official authority in interaction, within the Structure of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, MEPJ, the Directorate of Economic Diplomacy has been established. As an instrument of foreign policy and as a unit with its basic function of interaction, coordination and cooperation with structures inside and outside the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it is directly related to the promotion of the country’s economic interests in attracting foreign investments, promoting of the country as a tourist destination and the promotion of “Made in Albania” products and services.
