At the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Péter Szijjártó, the Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj paid an official visit to Budapest.
Discussions centred on European integration, as well as on the bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Appreciating Hungary’s solid support for Albania’s integration into the European Union, Acting Minister Gent Cakaj advised Minister Szijaarto of the progress made in meeting the 5 key priorities. The Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that the European Union must open negotiations with Albania this June, and that putting off the decision would be unacceptable to Hungary.
Underling the importance of the enlargement process and its credibility, Péter Szijjártó added that, as well as being important, security and stability across the Western Balkans directly impact on the security across the Central Europe.
On his part, Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj stated that, based on the results attained so far in the implementation of the justice reform and the public administration reform, Albania remains confident that negotiations will start.
Both Ministers recognised the very good relations between the two countries, both in the political and economic aspect, and considered that this visit has helped open up new possibilities of cooperation between the two countries in tourism, infrastructure, as well as water and waste management, and in the banking system, with the OTP Bank serving as a mechanism instrumental in attracting Hungarian investments to be made in Albania. Likewise, Hungary is assisting Albania with expertise on European integration.
Acting Minister Cakaj and the Hungarian Minister Szijjártó signed two agreements, namely, the Agreement on mutual assistance in improving waste management, public water utility, climate-related issue policies, and renewable energy and energy efficiency management, and the Agreement on mutual employment of family members of the diplomats posted in both countries.
In the course of the meeting, opinions were also exchanged about the Albanian OSCE Chairmanship in 2020, and Hungary’s support for Albania’s nomination for a temporary seat in the United Nations Security Council for the 2022-2023 period was reconfirmed.