Nicosia, Cyprus, June 2, 2025 – During his first official visit to the Republic of Cyprus, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr. Igli Hasani, held a series of meetings with high-level representatives of the Cypriot state.

During his meeting with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, Minister Hasani underscored the mutual appreciation of the longstanding friendly relations between the two countries. “The time has come to reinvigorate the political dialogue between Albania and Cyprus and to expand economic cooperation in sectors such as tourism, energy, information and communication technology, education, pharmaceuticals, and construction,” he affirmed.

Minister Hasani was also received by his counterpart, the Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Costantinos Kombos. They engaged in a thorough discussion on further developing bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Minister Hasani expressed appreciation for Cyprus’s support of Albania’s European integration. “Albania regards Cyprus as a key partner on its path towards the European Union. We look forward to close cooperation during Cyprus’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2026,” he added.

Both ministers expressed interest in establishing a direct air route between the two countries, which would significantly boost tourism exchanges and strengthen connections between their citizens.

Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Diplomatic Academies of both countries to cooperate on diplomatic training, aiming to enhance professional skills and promote institutional exchange between the diplomatic services.

During his visit to Cyprus, Minister Hasani also held meetings with the President of the House of Representatives, Ms. Annita Demetriou, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Marilena Raouna, who is overseeing the technical preparations for Cyprus’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026. The discussions centered on current geopolitical developments in Europe and the importance of enhancing regional and international cooperation.