Today, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj received in Tirana the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde.
In the course of the meeting, they discussed the excellent dynamics of the bilateral relations, Albania’s advance in terms of European integration, the developments across the Balkan region, and the security challenges. They considered the strengthening of political dialogue between the two countries, and about the situation in the Western Balkans and at large, in which both Albania and Sweden are playing an active role, to be especially important.
Minister Cakaj appreciated Sweden’s supporting role for the enlargement process overall, and Albania’s efforts in this process, in particular.
They shared the same opinion that European integration remains a process of paramount importance for Albania and the Albanians, as it provides the necessary framework for reforms towards stability and Albania’s sustainable political and economic development.
Minister Cakaj also dwelt on the EU’s approach to Kosovo and its citizens concerning visa liberalisation:
‘As has already been the case on nearly every other occasion, in meetings of similar level, I also pointed out the EU’s unfair approach to Kosovo’s citizens. Kosovo has fulfilled all the technical requirements, and its citizens deserve to move freely across the European Union space, without visa requirements being imposed on them,’ Cakaj stated.
Another topic of discussion included Albanian OSCE Chairmanship in 2020, being a major objective of the Albanian foreign policy, in which case Minister Cakaj was assured of the Swedish support for the work done so far. ​
19.11.2019